The NBA has never employed a female head coach. Commissioner Adam Silver says he wants that to change, and soon. In an interview with ESPN.com, Silver disputed a claim from WFAN radio host Mike Francesa, who said a woman had “no shot” at becoming a pro basketball head coach in his lifetime.
Adam Silver: There will be a female NBA head coach ‘sooner rather than later’
Silver: “There are three women currently in the pipeline.”
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“First of all, let me say that I disagree that there will not be a woman head coach in the NBA,” Silver said, according to ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk. “It is hard to say exactly when [it will happen]. There are three women currently in the pipeline...
“There definitely will [be a female head coach]. And I think it is on me to sort of ensure that it happens sooner rather than later.”
The Spurs’ Becky Hammon and Kings’ Nancy Lieberman are both assistant coaches in the NBA. The Clippers also employ Natalie Nakase as an assistant video coordinator.
Recently, Hammon turned down an offer to become head coach of Florida’s women’s basketball team. She made that decision, according to Swish Appeal, in order to pursue her goal of becoming the NBA’s first female head coach.
The NBA also employs Lauren Holtkamp as its sole female referee, though Violet Palmer and Dee Kantner preceded her. Silver said that a woman becoming a head coach should be easier than becoming a referee without the physical requirements of officiating.
“When it is not a function of how high you can jump or how strong you are, there is no physical litmus test to being a head coach in the league,” he said, “there is absolutely no reason why a woman will not ascend to be a head coach in this league. We are very focused in on it.”
Silver also said more women will be officiating NBA games as early as next season.
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