Last night, as I was watching South Carolina beat UConn for the first time in eight tries. I was initially extremely happy for Dawn Staley for everything she’s been able to accomplish as the Head Coach of the South Carolina Women’s Basketball team. Let’s take a look at why i think women Head Coaches are wanted.
But then I began to wonder: “Why aren’t more former WNBA and NCAA Women’s Basketball players given the opportunity to become Head Coaches?”
I’m sure most General Managers simply want to hire the best man or woman for the job based on their qualifications. But on some level, is there a need to proactively develop, interview, and hire women to coach women’s sports teams?
I recently asked Moriah Mack, who played briefly for the Minnesota Lynx and was the 2017 WAC (Western Athletic Conference) Player Of The Year at New Mexico State, whether or not she thinks so.
“Oh yeah. Definitely. I definitely do. If we look at the Men’s game, (NBA) they’re slowly trying to transform, as we see women becoming assistant Coaches. In the college game, when you look at their coaching staff, they’re all men, for the most part.”
“When they look at our coaching staff (Women’s Basketball) we should be a majority of women’s coaching staff. I think that’s big for giving women opportunities to coach at the next level. Also, to be an impact on young girls when they’re playing sports. I think it’s really vital to have women in those roles.”
Take a look at the NBA. Many former players have been given the opportunity to make the transition into coaching, with little or no previous experience: Jason Kidd, Steve Kerr, Mark Jackson, Tyronn Lue, and Luke Walton. All who are former players who’ve been hired as Head Coaches.
I believe that many former WNBA and NCAA Women’s Basketball players could also go on to be highly successful Head Coaches. If given the opportunity, but for some reason, they’re not given that chance. Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird, Maya Moore, and Briann January are current players that should pursue a coaching job when their careers are over.
Back in 1972 when Title IX was implemented, 90% of the Head Coaches of women’s sports teams were female. Fast forward to today and only 41.5% of the coaches of women’s teams are female. In women’s basketball, the most popular women’s collegiate sport, 59.3% of women’s college basketball teams were coached by women, down from 79.4% in 1977.
How do we got those numbers back up to where they were at the inception of Title IX?
While I don’t think that it’s necessary to create a mandate, as the NFL has with the “Rooney Rule” for minority candidates. It will be necessary for Front Offices to be conscious of the importance of providing women with these opportunities. At least provide them with a chance to see what they can do.
Not every former NBA player who went on to become a Head Coach was successful, just as not every woman who’s hired will. But most men eventually get another shot. Do women get a second opportunity? History shows that they most likely will not.
In order for women’s sports to truly empower women, while creating opportunities as more than just players. Women’s sports leagues must begin to help them develop the skills necessary to succeed in any and every role within a professional or collegiate organization.
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