Already the first woman to serve as a full-time, salaried NBA coach, San Antonio Spurs assistant and former WNBA star Becky Hammon could make history by becoming the first woman to serve as a head coach of a Division I men’s basketball team.
Hammon’s alma mater, Colorado State, is currently looking for a men’s coach after Larry Eustachy resigned amidst an investigation into his allegedly abusive behavior by him towards his players. And not only is there a groundswell of public support for Hammon – who was inducted into the Colorado State University Sports Hall of Fame after being named to three women’s All-American teams – but according to Yahoo Sports, she’s also one of the preferred candidate by the school’s administration.
‘It’s the most frequently asked question I get, and recommended candidate,’ Colorado State athletic director Joe Parker told Coloradoan.com. ‘I’m not closing the door on any thought.’
Hammon (center) has worked closely with legendary Spurs coach Gregg Popovich (near right)
The 40-year-old Hammon’s credentials are not only worth of a Division I men’s head-coaching gig, but she’s even been interviewed as a candidate to become the general manager of the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks, although she was ultimately passed over for the position.
Truthfully, Hammon’s resume reads like any NBA head-coaching hopeful. She’s spent the better part of the last four years serving under legendary Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich and she also has head-coaching experience with San Antonio’s Summer League team.
Several of Gregg Popovich’s assistants have gone on to head-coaching positions, including Atlanta’s Mike Budenholzer, Philadelphia’s Brett Brown, and former Orlando Magic coach Jacques Vaughn. Popovich (pictured) even reignited the career of former Seton Hall and Golden State Warriors coach P.J. Carlesimo, who went on to become the Nets interim coach
Spurs general manager R.C. Buford (left) says Hammon has ‘the respect of our coaches, our players and our organization’ after serving as the team’s Supper League coach (right)
According to Spurs general manager R.C. Buford, Hammon ‘wasn’t hired because we wanted to be trailblazers… She was hired because she was the right person to be in our group’
Hammon, who was a candidate to coach the University of Florida women before the season, did not speak to Yahoo Sports, but Spurs general manager R.C. Buford praised her basketball IQ and ’emotional IQ’ while explaining why she can becoming a ‘successful’ head coach.
Becky Hammon (left) was named to three All-American teams during her tenure at Colorado State before going to the WNBA
‘She’s established a great presence in our group,’ Buford said. ‘She’s got the respect of our coaches, our players and our organization. She has great insight at two different levels, both in the coaching environment and strategic discussions and she can also take [instruction] to our players and discuss with them.’
A six-time WNBA All-Star, Hammon has remained quiet about her already historic career. And to Buford, the story has never been about Hammon being a pioneer, but rather a good coach.
‘It wasn’t a big deal at the time [we hired her] because she deserved every bit of it,’ Buford said. ‘We laugh about it. She wasn’t hired because we wanted to be trailblazers or she wanted to be one. She was hired because she was the right person to be in our group.
‘My belief is that the story would last a short time, then it would be not that she’s a trailblazer, it’s that she’s the right fit.’
Several of Popovich’s assistants have gone on to head-coaching positions, including Atlanta’s Mike Budenholzer, Philadelphia’s Brett Brown, and former Orlando Magic coach Jacques Vaughn. Popovich even reignited the career of former Seton Hall and Golden State Warriors coach P.J. Carlesimo, who went on to become the interim coach of the Brooklyn Nets after a brief tenure with the Spurs.
The Rams are currently 11-20 under interim coach Jase Herl.
San Antonio Spurs coach Becky Hammon is reportedly a head-coaching candidate for the Colorado State men’s basketball team. She was a three-time All-American at the school