Decorated NBA assistant could be the Liberty's next coach after Sandy Brondello exit

Jeremy Beren

Decorated NBA assistant could be the Liberty's next coach after Sandy Brondello exit image

Allan Henry-Imagn Images

It has been nearly two months since the New York Liberty fired head coach Sandy Brondello, as general manager Jonathan Kolb sought a change of direction following a disappointing WNBA title defense in 2025.

But while Brondello has landed on her feet as the first coach in the history of the expansion Toronto Tempo, the Liberty have yet to decide on a replacement for the person who led them to their first-ever championship in 2024.

New York has conducted a thorough search as Kolb aims to hire a championship-caliber coach to lead a star-laden roster that -- pending free agency -- may include Natasha Cloud, Sabrina Ionescu, Jonquel Jones and Breanna Stewart. A new report indicates that Kolb has his eyes on a four-time NBA champion to lead this squad.

Is Chris DeMarco bound for the Big Apple?

Longtime Golden State Warriors assistant coach Chris DeMarco has emerged as a top candidate to land the Liberty job as the franchise's lengthy search heads toward a conclusion.

According to the New York Post's Madeline Kenney, DeMarco is one of four candidates under consideration at this late stage of the search. Toronto Raptors assistant Jama Mahlalela, former Brooklyn Nets assistant Will Weaver and current Phoenix Mercury assistant Kristi Toliver are also in the mix.

DeMarco, 40, was hired by the Warriors in 2012. A former video coordinator, DeMarco climbed the ladder in Golden State to become a top assistant on head coach Steve Kerr's staff; he has been part of all four Golden State championship teams since 2015.

If DeMarco joins the Liberty in the coming weeks, he would become the third NBA assistant to take over a WNBA team's head coaching job in two years. Nate Tibbetts joined the Mercury from the Orlando Magic in October 2023, while the Portland Fire completed the appointment of Cleveland Cavaliers assistant Alex Sarama last month.

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Editorial Team