The New York Liberty have made a noteworthy decision by appointing Chris DeMarco, an assistant coach from the Golden State Warriors, as their new head coach. This announcement was made public on Wednesday, marking a new era for the team.

Chris DeMarco brings with him an impressive track record from his 13-year tenure with the Warriors. During his time there, he served in multiple roles including player development coach and assistant coach, contributing significantly to the team’s success in clinching four NBA championships.

“After an extensive search, we are thrilled to welcome Chris DeMarco as our head coach,” expressed Liberty General Manager Jonathan Kolb. “Our mission was straightforward: to find a leader capable of uplifting our culture, implementing top-tier systems, and bringing a contemporary vision to advance this franchise on the court.”

DeMarco joins the ranks of recent WNBA hires with a strong NBA background, alongside Alex Sarama of Portland and Sonia Raman of Seattle, both part of the five head coaches brought on board this offseason within the league.

Expressing his excitement, DeMarco stated, “I am incredibly honored to join the Liberty and proud to uphold the standard this franchise has set—excellence on the court and a robust connection to the community. The opportunity to work with some of the greatest players in basketball, backed by an exceptional front office and ownership group, is the kind of opportunity every coach dreams of. I am eager to get started, building on the winning foundation and culture that make the New York Liberty so special.”

He’s the third coach that Kolb has hired in his six-year tenure with the Liberty. New York, like nearly every other team, has most of its roster as free agents, but Kolb said after the season he expected the core of Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu and Jonquel Jones back.

The Liberty let Sandy Brondello go soon after their loss in the first round of the WNBA playoffs this past season. She helped guide the team to its first WNBA championship in 2024. She was recently hired by the Toronto expansion team.

DeMarco has been the Bahamian national team coach since 2019. Jones hails from that island nation. He has been a part of all four of the Warriors championships.

___

AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball