New Liberty coach Chris DeMarco praises Warriors

The New York Liberty formally launched Warriors assistant coach Chris DeMarco because the WNBA franchise’s new head coach on Wednesday afternoon.

Throughout his half-hour information convention, DeMarco, 40, outlined his teaching philosophy and training ethos. It’s a basis that he stated was influenced by each his time with Golden State and as head coach of the Bahamas males’s nationwide crew. 

“I used to be raised the fitting means in the fitting tradition by Steve Kerr,” DeMarco informed reporters. “I’ve grown as a coach and I wish to do the identical for anyone else on my employees.”

He started his Golden State profession as a video intern in 2012, and ultimately grew to become certainly one of Kerr’s lead assistants. After nearly 14 years with the Warriors, DeMarco was able to take the subsequent step in his profession. 

“I’ve spent lots of time on the defensive facet of the ball as a coach, and began to develop offensively,” DeMarco stated. “I’ve executed participant growth, I’ve been a video coordinator, I’ve been a scout and executed the whole lot I can outdoors of being a head coach within the NBA.”

Now, DeMarco will get his probability to guide a franchise that received the WNBA title in 2024 and options stars corresponding to Walnut Creek’s Sabrina Ionescu, the Bahamas’ Jonquel Jones and the uber-talented Breanna Stewart. They’re gamers who DeMarco in comparison with the celebrities from Golden State’s heyday. 

“That’s what I noticed time and again with the Steph Currys, the Draymond Greens, the Klay Thompsons and all of the veterans we’d herald … these guys are all execs, they usually all would educate the youthful gamers how you can work,” DeMarco stated. 

After a disappointing first-round exit this autumn, the Liberty fired Sandy Brondello. However the star-studded core stays.

I’m very excited, primarily due to the championship pedigree,” DeMarco stated. “For many who have received on the highest stage, it’s so laborious to get there. We now have a company that’s been there and a crew stuffed with gamers who’ve been there.”

Ionescu attended the Warriors’ house recreation in opposition to the Jazz on Nov. 24, and she or he and DeMarco have been seen speaking earlier than and after the Warriors’ win.

DeMarco stated his final recreation with the Warriors might be Dec. 29, when the crew visits Brooklyn’s Barclays Middle, the place the Liberty and the NBA’s Nets play.