Grizzlies' D-League team hires female assistant coach
Sometimes, in order for barriers to begin to fall, all it takes is for someone to take that first step.
In the case of the NBA and females being given a shot at coaching positions, the Spurs made it happen with Becky Hammon, and now others are following suit.
The Sacramento Kings are hiring Nancy Lieberman as an assistant coach, and now the Memphis Grizzlies (via their D-League affiliate team, the Iowa Energy) are similarly giving a deserving individual the chance to succeed.
From the official release:
"The Iowa Energy and its NBA affiliate, the Memphis Grizzlies, today jointly announced Nicki Gross as an assistant coach for the Energy. With her promotion Gross becomes the only female assistant coach in the NBA D-League.
"Gross enters her second season with the Iowa Energy. Gross spent the 2014-2015 season with the Energy as video coordinator after previously serving as the assistant video coordinator for the Bakersfield Jam in 2013-2014. Pending league approval, Gross will begin her assistant coaching duties this upcoming season."
Gender shouldn't be an issue if an individual is qualified to do a job, even in a league that's 100 percent male. It's nice to see this particular door being opened for those who are clearly worthy of being given these opportunities.
