Chris DeMarco is able to lead the Liberty into a brand new period — or nearly prepared.
The brand new Liberty rent is ready to depart from his Warriors assistant function on Dec. 29 after the group visits the Brooklyn Nets.
After that, DeMarco is 100% dedicated to being the Liberty’s latest head coach — a job alternative he described as a “no-brainer.”
In his introductory press convention, DeMarco described the Liberty as a “world-class organization” that has what it takes to win a WNBA championship. That plus being in what he expressed because the “best city in the world” attracted him to the brand new gig.
“And again, I talked about the championship pedigree here,” DeMarco mentioned at Barclays Heart on Wednesday. “I want to go somewhere where we have a chance to win, and with the support of ownership and the way ownerships align with management, and now the head coach… this is just an exciting opportunity.”
DeMarco, who lived in Lengthy Island until the primary grade, is ready to guide one of many WNBA’s authentic franchises after common supervisor Jonathan Kolb determined to half methods with Sandy Brondello — the franchise’s winningest coach — in September.
He brings 14 years of NBA expertise (participant improvement, assistant) with the Golden State Warriors. DeMarco, 40, gained 4 titles with the Warriors and likewise led the Bahamas Males’s Nationwide Basketball Staff since 2019.
The group by no means certified for the Olympics, however got here shut in 2024 after securing its most important victory in program historical past, defeating host Argentina within the 2024 Olympic Pre-Qualifying Event last.
“I feel like I’m Bahamian, if we’re being honest,” mentioned DeMarco. The Liberty, in fact, are anchored by Bahamian-born star Jonquel Jones.
DeMarco — sitting alongside Kolb — spoke on the press convention after working with the Warriors on a three-game street journey within the span of 4 days (Dec. 4-7). He arrived in Brooklyn along with his face on the large screens outdoors of Barclays Heart on the plaza.
It’s a results of a two-month search through which DeMarco separated himself from different candidates late within the course of, per Kolb. The final supervisor mentioned the pinnacle coach excelled within the tactical session, a portion of the method every candidate underwent.
Kolb famous DeMarco’s means to have plans for the Liberty whereas concurrently teaching within the NBA “really spoke to us.”
“So we believe that Chris is the right person at this time to unlock the full potential of our group and to lead the New York Liberty to the levels that we all expect,” the GM mentioned. Kolb added that the teaching search concerned “head coaches, assistant coaches, we looked at college programs as well as the NBA, and we really just let the evidence guide us.”
The Liberty’s new rent continued the pattern of coaches with prior NBA expertise touchdown head teaching gigs within the ever-growing WNBA.
Phoenix Mercury head coach Nate Tibbets arrived there after years of being an NBA assistant and a head coach of two G-League groups. Natalie Nakase hung out as a Clippers assistant earlier than teaching below Becky Hammon in Las Vegas then ultimately being employed as head coach of the Golden State Valkyries.
DeMarco famous that Nakase and Tibbetts have been coaches he spoke with about transitioning from the NBA to WNBA.
“I have a lot to learn about the space, so I’m gonna spend the time over the next few months and keep growing and keep learning, and hopefully by the time the season starts, we’re all be ready to go,” he mentioned.
Staff proprietor Clara Wu Tsai and chief government officer Keia Clarke sat entrance row with Liberty gamers — Sabrina Ionescu, Nyara Sabally, Betnijah Laney-Hamilton and Isabelle Harrison — additionally in attendance.
DeMarco already knew some gamers earlier than being employed and has since reached out to each participant on the group.
“I’ve gotten to know them a little bit, obviously, high character. All great people [and I’m] really excited to start coaching them,” mentioned DeMarco. Sabally, although, was the one Liberty participant in attendance Wednesday that’s signed via the 2026 WNBA season. Leonie Fiebich’s deal retains her in Brooklyn via 2027. The remainder of the roster will probably be looking for a brand new deal each time free company approaches (potential lockout).
When that roster is ready, DeMarco has sights set on a WNBA title.
The inspiration must be set as Kolb beforehand talked about he anticipated the core trio of Ionesu, Jonquel Jones and Breanna Stewart to re-sign with the franchise this winter.
“Very, very excited, mainly because of the championship pedigree. I think for those who have won at the highest level, it’s so hard to get there,” DeMarco mentioned. “And we have an organization that’s been there. We have a team full of players who have been there. And I do think that matters when you’re trying to win every single season, and I know last season [we were] unable to repeat, and I think there’s some growth there, and we’re going to continue to work on that.”
