Adam Silver was a recent guest on the NCAA’s official podcast. While speaking with Bonnie Bernstein as part of her series on Title IX and its impact, Silver said he believes the NBA is ready for their first female head coach.
“I would be hugely disappointed if, certainly, in five years we haven’t seen our first female head coach in the NBA,” Silver said.
NBA teams currently employ five women as assistant coaches. They are Jenny Boucek (Indiana Pacers), Lindsey Harding (Sacramento Kings), Sonia Raman (Minnesota Grizzlies), Kristi Toliver (Dallas Mavericks) and Teresa Weatherspoon (New Orleans Pelicans).
Silver said there is more work to be done though.
“I’ve said this before, as much as professional sports has led, and the WNBA and NBA have led in certain areas, we’re a bit behind in this area,” Silver said. “We should have more women head coaches. We should have a female head coach right now. We should have more women referees. It’s something we’re working very hard on right now.”
