Report: Dawn Staley open to talks with 76ers about coaching job

Photo Credit: Richard W. Rodriguez/Fort Worth Star Telegram/TNS/Getty Images

After the Philadelphia 76ers were unceremoniously swept out of the NBA playoffs by the Boston Celtics, the Sixers “Process” took a major hit when the organization fired Brett Brown as head coach.

Could the Sixers go full Philly with their next coaching hire?

According to a report from Mike Uva of WACH-TV Fox 57 in Columbia, Dawn Staley, currently the coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks women’s basketball program and USA Basketball’s women’s national team, is open to the possibility of assuming the head coaching position at Philadelphia.

Staley has experienced a wealth of success in Columbia – including bringing a national championship to Soda City with current WNBA great A’ja Wilson leading the way for the Gamecocks. South Carolina was expected to be a favorite for the national title this year before the coronavirus pandemic canceled what would have been this year’s tournament.

Bringing a Philly native into the fold with the Sixers would be positive PR for the team, given how much flack the Sixers owner, Josh Harris has received from fans. In addition to the Brett Brown firing, the Sixers are also pushing to move out of Wells Fargo Center and to a new arena in Penn’s Landing.

There is plenty of speculation that if Harris does not get the Penn’s Landing stadium that he may use it as leverage to move across the Delaware River to Camden, New Jersey – where the Sixers’ practice facility is located.

Wait … did someone say practice?