The Golden State Warriors are set to lose someone who has been a key piece of the organization for more than a decade.
It was recently announced that assistant coach Chris DeMarco would be leaving to become the head coach of the New York Liberty in the WNBA. DeMarco has been on the Warriors bench for the last 13 seasons, and head coach Steve Kerr and the rest of the team said their goodbyes on Monday night.
Warriors Get a Win, Honor DeMarco on Monday
Monday night was the last time on the bench for DeMarco, as the Warriors were in Brooklyn to take on the Nets. The longtime assistant is getting sent off with a win, as the Warriors walked away with a 120-107 victory.
After the game, Kerr presented DeMarco with a game ball on the court. The coaching staff then took a picture together one final time and exchanged pleasantries with DeMarco. The coach was then seen walking off the court with Trayce Jackson-Davis.
The Warriors X account shared the moment and wished DeMarco good luck as the head coach of the Liberty.
Thank you, CD
Wishing you good luck as the @nyliberty head coach! pic.twitter.com/2QcduufOsh
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) December 30, 2025
DeMarco began his career in video and scouting before advancing to director of player development and ultimately serving as an assistant coach under Mark Jackson. Kerr decided to keep DeMarco after replacing Jackson, and the coach has been on the bench ever since.
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“He watches everything,” Kerr said of DeMarco. “You know, he was constantly keeping his finger on the pulse of the game, wherever. FIBA, European basketball, he studies the trends. He loves the game so he’s seen this team through everything, and so that experience will certainly help, but bottom line, he’s a hell of a basketball coach, he’s a great guy, he’s going to do a really good job.”
DeMarco Inheriting Contending Team in New York
DeMarco takes over for Sandy Brondello, who was not retained by the Liberty despite leading the franchise to back-to-back WNBA Finals appearances in 2023 and 2024.
The Liberty did take a step back in 2025, losing in the first round of the playoffs to the Phoenix Mercury. Still, this is a team that hasn’t missed the playoffs since 2020 and still boasts elite talents like Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart.
Luckily, DeMarco is used to winning. The longtime assistant won four championships with the Warriors and got to coach one of the best players of all time in Stephen Curry.
