After 13 years with the Warriors, assistant coach Chris DeMarco saw his journey with the team come to an end Monday night after Golden State’s win in Brooklyn.
Fittingly enough, it’s not going to be a far travel for DeMarco to reach his new home.
Following the Warriors’ 120-107 victory over the Nets, DeMarco was already in his new home at Barclays Center; DeMarco accepted the head coaching role with the Liberty in early December after the team’s lengthy search to replace Sandy Brondello.
After he gave his closing remarks to the Warriors, the team drenched him with water bottles in a joyous celebration of what’s to come next for the new WNBA head coach.
After the Liberty made their decision, the team spoke about DeMarco’s winning attitude that he will bring to the East Coast.
“Chris is a proven winner whose approach has been shaped by more than a decade inside one of basketball’s most successful dynasties,” general manager Jonathan Kolb said in a statement. “He has seen firsthand what it takes to build a championship standard, and his clarity, adaptability, and player-development expertise will be invaluable as we strive to deliver the best version of the New York Liberty for our players, organization, and amazing fans.”
The Liberty parted ways with Brondello during the offseason, less than a year after she led New York to the WNBA title in a thrilling five-game series against the Lynx.
Nevertheless, New York had trouble finding its footing this past season and was eliminated by the Phoenix Mercury in the opening round of the playoffs.
DeMarco joined Golden State in 2012 as an assistant coach under then-Warriors head coach Mark Jackson. When Steve Kerr was brought on as head coach in 2014, he instantly formed a relationship with DeMarco and hired him to his staff.
DeMarco has also been the Bahamian men’s national team coach since 2019.
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Kerr, on Monday, spoke highly of DeMarco and of what was truly a transformative day.
“First of all, we just went and saw his office, his new office,” Kerr told reporters before Monday’s game in Brooklyn. “What a strange day for him, you know, to come to his new arena, go to his new office, come back to our locker room, help us play a game, try to win a game, and then that’s it. He’s staying here, and it’s almost surreal. So, he’s been a great coach, great friend. I’m going to miss him. Twelve years with him, and hugely valuable to our team. He’s kind of done it all.
“But he’s really become a great friend, and I really miss him. He’s a huge part of our staff, and we’re going to have to fill in the void that he leaves, both strategically and just who he is as a person, what he means to all of us.”
Regarded as an offensive specialist, DeMarco’s heralded for the development of Jordan Poole, who now plays for the Pelicans. During Golden State’s 2022 NBA title run, Poole developed into an ideal scorer off the bench and helped lead the Warriors to their fourth title in eight years.
In New York, DeMarco will be taking over a talented team led by veterans Ionescu, Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones.
