Dawn Staley facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Dawn Staley

Staley with the South Carolina Gamecocks in 2020
South Carolina Gamecocks
Head coach
Personal information
Born	(1970-05-04) May 4, 1970 (age 55) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
High school	Dobbins Tech (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
Listed height	5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Career information
College	Virginia (1988–1992)
NBA Draft	1999 / Round: 1 / Pick: 9th overall
Selected by the Charlotte Sting
Pro career	1996–2006
Coaching career	2000–present
League	Southeastern Conference
Career history
As player:
1994–1995	Tarbes Gespe Bigorre
1996–1998	Richmond / Philadelphia Rage
1999–2005	Charlotte Sting
2005–2006	Houston Comets
As coach:
2000–2008	Temple
2008–present	South Carolina
Career highlights and awards
As player: 6× WNBA All-Star (2001–2006) WNBA 10th Anniversary Team (2006) WNBA 15th Anniversary Team (2011) WNBA Three-Point Shootout champion (2006) WNBA Skills Challenge champion (2003) 2× ABL All-Star (1997, 1998) NCAA Tournament MOP (1991) 2x ACC Female Athlete of the Year (1991, 1992) ACC Tournament MVP (1992) 2× Honda Sports Award (1991, 1992) Honda-Broderick Cup (1991) 2× Naismith College Player of the Year (1991, 1992) 2× WBCA Player of the Year (1991, 1992) 2× USBWA Player of the Year (1991, 1992) 2× ACC Player of the Year (1991, 1992) 3x Kodak All-American (1990–1992) 2x All-American – USBWA (1991, 1992) 3x First-team All-ACC (1990–1992) ACC Rookie of the Year (1989) As coach: 3× NCAA Division I Tournament champion (2017, 2022, 2024) 6× NCAA Regional – Final Four (2015, 2017, 2021–2024) 8× SEC tournament champion (2015–2018, 2020–2021, 2023, 2024) 8× SEC regular season champion (2014–2017, 2020, 2022–2024) 4× Naismith Coach of the Year (2020, 2022–2024) 4× WBCA National Coach of the Year (2020, 2022–2024) 2× AP National Coach of the Year (2020, 2024) The Sporting News National Coach of the Year (2024) 4× USBWA National Coach of the Year (2020, 2022–2024) 7× SEC Coach of the Year (2014–2016, 2020, 2022–2024) 4× A-10 tournament champion (2002, 2004–2006) 3× A-10 regular-season champion (2004, 2005, 2008) 2× A-10 Coach of the Year (2004, 2005)
Medals Women's basketball Representing the  United States Olympic Games Gold 1996 Atlanta Team Gold 2000 Sydney Team Gold 2004 Athens Team World Cup Gold 1998 Germany Team Gold 2002 China Team Bronze 1994 Australia Team Universiade Gold 1991 Sheffield Team Head coach for the  United States Olympic Games Gold 2020 Tokyo Team World Cup Gold 2018 Spain Team FIBA AmeriCup Gold 2019 San Juan Team Gold 2021 San Juan Team Pan American Games Gold 2007 Rio Team U19 World Championship Gold 2015 Chekhov Team FIBA U18 Americas Championship Gold 2014 Colorado Springs Team

Dawn Michelle Staley (born May 4, 1970) is an American basketball coach and former player. She is currently the head coach for the South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team. As a player, she was a point guard for the Virginia Cavaliers in college. She also played eight seasons in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), mostly with the Charlotte Sting.

Staley was also a star player for the United States women's national basketball team. She won three gold medals at the Olympic Games between 1996 and 2004. Later, she became the head coach for the U.S. team and led them to an Olympic gold medal in 2021. Dawn Staley is the first person ever to win the Naismith Award as both a player and a coach.

During her college career at Virginia from 1988 to 1992, Staley set many records. She played professionally in the American Basketball League (ABL). Then, she was picked ninth overall by the Sting in the 1999 WNBA draft. She was a WNBA All-Star six times in a row from 2001 to 2006. While still playing in the WNBA, Staley also coached the Temple Owls women's basketball team from 2000 to 2008. She led them to six NCAA tournaments.

In 2008, Staley became the head coach at South Carolina. She turned the Gamecocks into one of the best women's basketball teams. She has led them to eight SEC regular season championships and eight SEC tournament championships. Her teams have also reached the Sweet Sixteen seven times and the Final Four five times. She led them to three NCAA women's basketball national championships. This included the school's first title in 2017 and a perfect season in 2024. Staley was honored by being inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012. She also joined the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013.

Early Life and Family

Dawn Staley was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her parents, Clarence and Estelle Staley, moved there from South Carolina in the 1950s. They lived in a housing project in North Philadelphia. Clarence worked as a part-time carpenter, and Estelle was a homemaker. They raised five children, including Dawn.

Playing Career Highlights

High School Star

Dawn Staley was a standout player at Murrell Dobbins Vocational High School in Philadelphia. In her final season, she was named the national high school player of the year.

College Success at Virginia

Staley went to the University of Virginia (UVA) from 1988 to 1992. She studied Rhetoric and Communication. During her four years, she led her team to four NCAA tournaments. They reached the Final Four three times and played in one national championship game.

She was named the ACC female athlete of the year and the national player of the year in both 1991 and 1992. Staley finished her college career with 2,135 points. She also held the NCAA record for career steals with 454. Her jersey number 24 is retired at UVA, meaning no other player at Virginia will wear it.

Playing Overseas

After college, Staley played professional basketball in other countries. From 1994 to 1995, she played in France, Italy, Brazil, and Spain. After that, she joined the ABL and then the WNBA.

Playing for Team USA

Staley played for the USA Basketball Women's Junior National Team in 1989. She also played for the team at the World University Games in 1991, where they won a gold medal.

She competed with USA Basketball in 1992 and won gold at the Jones Cup in Taipei. Staley played for Team USA throughout her career. In 1994, she was named the USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year.

She led the 1996 U.S. team to a perfect 60–0 record. They won the gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics. She also helped the 2000 Olympic team win another gold medal.

In 1998, Staley was part of the national team that won the gold medal at the FIBA World Championships in Germany. She averaged 7.0 points per game and set a record with 52 assists. In 2002, she helped the national team win another World Championship in China.

She won her third gold medal with Team USA at the 2004 Games in Athens. Her performance led to her being named 2004 USA Basketball Female Athlete Of The Year. Before the Games, she was chosen to carry the flag for the United States in the opening ceremony.

Professional Leagues: ABL and WNBA

In 1996, Staley joined the Richmond Rage in the American Basketball League (ABL). She led the team to the ABL finals in 1997. She was named to the All-ABL first team in 1996–97 and the second team the next season.

In the 1999 WNBA draft, the Charlotte Sting picked Staley as the ninth overall player. In 2001, she led the Sting to the championship game of the WNBA playoffs.

On August 1, 2005, Staley was traded to the Houston Comets. She announced that she would retire after the Comets' season ended. The Comets made the playoffs but lost, ending Staley's playing career. In 2011, fans voted her as one of the top 15 players in the WNBA's 15-year history.

Coaching Career

Temple Owls (2000–2008)

Dawn Staley didn't plan to be a coach at first. The athletic director at Temple University asked her to consider the job. She was still playing in the WNBA at the time. Her friends told her it would be too hard to play and coach at the same time. But this challenge made her want to try.

She accepted the head coach position at Temple. In her first season (2000–01), Temple went to the WNIT. Her teams won the Atlantic 10 tournament in 2001, 2002, and 2004. This helped them qualify for the NCAA tournament.

In the 2004–05 season, Staley's team had an amazing 28–4 record. They were perfect against Atlantic 10 opponents, going 19–0. Staley reached 100 wins as a coach that season, faster than any other women's basketball coach at the time.

On May 7, 2008, Staley left Temple to become the head coach at the University of South Carolina. She left Temple with a great record of 172 wins and 80 losses. She also led them to six NCAA appearances and four Atlantic 10 titles.

South Carolina Gamecocks (2008–Present)

When Staley came to South Carolina, she started to rebuild the basketball program. At first, they had two losing seasons. But she steadily improved the team each year. In the 2014–15 season, they became the number one ranked team and reached their first Final Four.

In 2016–17, the Gamecocks won the SEC regular season and tournament championships for the third year in a row. They reached the Final Four again. They then beat Mississippi State in the national championship game. This was the first national title in school history. Staley became the second African American coach to lead a women's basketball team to a national championship.

Coach Staley with a young fan after a game in 2020.

Under Staley, the South Carolina program has won many titles. They have captured eight SEC regular season championships and eight SEC tournament titles. They have also made seven Sweet Sixteen appearances and five Final Fours. Most impressively, they have won three NCAA national championships. Staley herself has been named SEC Coach of the Year seven times.

In 2020, Staley led the Gamecocks to a fantastic 32–1 season. They won another SEC regular season and tournament championship. The Gamecocks were ranked #1 before the NCAA tournament was canceled due to COVID-19. Staley won all the national coach of the year awards in 2020. She is the first person to win the Naismith award as both a player and a coach.

In 2021, her team reached a third Final Four. On October 15, 2021, Staley signed a big contract extension with South Carolina. This made her the highest-paid Black college basketball coach in the country.

In 2022, the Gamecocks were ranked #1 all season. They defeated many top-ranked teams. In the NCAA tournament, they won their second national championship. Staley won the Naismith Award again. She also coached the National Player of the Year, Aliyah Boston.

Staley won her 600th game on February 22, 2024. This was a huge milestone in her coaching career. In 2024, Staley led her team to a perfect 38–0 season. They won their third national title, making history. Staley also won her fourth Naismith Coach of the Year Award.

Coaching for Team USA

Dawn Staley also served as an assistant coach for the USA national team in 2006. She helped the Americans win their fourth straight gold medal in women's basketball at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

After coaching Team USA to a gold medal at the 2007 Pan Am games, she coached the U17 Team in 2014 and the U19 Team in 2015. She won gold medals at both the U18 Americas Championship and the U19 FIBA World Championship.

She was an assistant coach for Team USA at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. She helped the Americans win their sixth straight gold medal. On March 10, 2017, she was named the head coach of the USA national women's team.

At the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Staley won her first gold medal as Team USA's Head coach. They won all six games, extending her perfect record to 45–0. Staley also coached Team USA to gold medals in the 2018 World Cup and two FIBA AmeriCups in 2019 and 2021.

Awards and Honors

Dawn Staley has received many awards for her amazing career as both a player and a coach:

• 1991 – Winner of the Honda Sports Award for basketball
• 1991 – WBCA Player of the Year
• 1991 – Naismith College Player of the Year
• 1991 – USBWA Women's National Player of the Year
• 1991 – The Honda-Broderick Cup winner for all sports
• 1992 – Winner of the Honda Sports Award for basketball
• 1992 – WBCA Player of the Year
• 1992 – Naismith College Player of the Year
• 1992 – USBWA Women's National Player of the Year
• 2008 – Inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame
• 2012 – Inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame
• 2013 – Received the Order of the Palmetto
• 2014, 2015, 2016, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024 – SEC Coach of the Year
• 2015 – USA Basketball Co-National Coach of the Year
• 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024 – Naismith College Coach of the Year
• 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024 – USBWA Women's National Coach of the Year
• 2020, 2024 – AP National Coach of the Year
• 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024 – WBCA National Coach of the Year
• 2021 – USA Basketball Co-National Coach of the Year
• 2023 – USA Today Woman of the Year
• 2024 – The Athletic Coach of the Year
• 2024 – The Sporting News National Coach of the Year
• 2024 – Jimmy V Award

Personal Life

Dawn Staley is a Christian. She often thanks God after games. After her team won the 2024 National title, she thanked Jesus.

Staley leads the Dawn Staley Foundation. This foundation helps young people with academics and sports. It supports basketball leagues and other activities to raise money.

Staley also hosts a podcast called Netlife. It is produced by Just Women's Sports. She started the podcast in January 2022.

Dawn Staley is a big fan of the New York Jets and the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles. She often wears Eagles jerseys while coaching. She also has a Havanese dog named Champ, who even has his own Twitter account! Champ often visits practices.

See also

In Spanish: Dawn Staley para niños

• List of college women's basketball career coaching wins leaders