View source for Dawn Staley

{{Short description|American basketball player and coach (born 1970)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Dawn Staley
| image = Dawn Staley coaching.jpg
| width = 
| caption = Staley with the [[South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball|South Carolina Gamecocks]] in 2020
| league = [[Southeastern Conference]]
| team = South Carolina Gamecocks
| position = [[Head coach]]
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 6
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1970|5|4}}
| birth_place = [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]], U.S.
| high_school = [[Murrell Dobbins Vocational School|Dobbins Tech]]<br/>(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
| college = [[Virginia Cavaliers women's basketball|Virginia]] (1988–1992)
| draft_league = WNBA
| draft_year = 1999
| draft_round = 1
| draft_pick = 9
| draft_team = [[Charlotte Sting]]
| career_start = 1996
| career_end = 2006
| career_position = [[Point guard]]
| career_number = 5
| coach_start = 2000
| years1 = 1994–1995
| team1 = [[Tarbes Gespe Bigorre]]
| years2 = 1996–1998
| team2 = [[Philadelphia Rage|Richmond / Philadelphia Rage]]
| years3 = {{WNBA Year|1999}}–{{WNBA Year|2005}}
| team3 = [[Charlotte Sting]]
| years4 = {{WNBA Year|2005}}–{{WNBA Year|2006}}
| team4 = [[Houston Comets]]
| cyears1 = 2000–2008
| cteam1 = [[Temple Owls women's basketball|Temple]]
| cyears2 = 2008–present
| cteam2 = [[South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball|South Carolina]]
| highlights = '''As player:'''
* 6× [[WNBA All-Star]] ([[2001 WNBA All-Star Game|2001]]–[[2006 WNBA All-Star Game|2006]])
* [[WNBA All-Decade Team|WNBA 10th Anniversary Team]] (2006)
* [[WNBA's Top 15 Players of All Time|WNBA 15th Anniversary Team]] (2011)
* [[WNBA All-Star Game#Three-Point Contest|WNBA Three-Point Shootout champion]] ({{WNBA Year|2006}})
* [[WNBA All-Star Game#Skills Challenge|WNBA Skills Challenge champion]] ({{WNBA Year|2003}})
* 2× [[American Basketball League (1996–1998)|ABL]] All-Star (1997, 1998)
* 2× [[USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year]] (1994, 2004)
* [[NCAA basketball tournament Most Outstanding Player|NCAA Tournament MOP]] (1991)
* 2× [[ACC Athlete of the Year|ACC Female Athlete of the Year]] (1991, 1992)
* [[ACC women's basketball tournament|ACC Tournament MVP]] (1992)
* 2× [[Honda Sports Award (basketball)|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 Women's National Player of the Year|USBWA Player of the Year]] (1991, 1992)
* 2× [[Atlantic Coast Conference Women's Basketball Player of the Year|ACC Player of the Year]] (1991, 1992)
* 3× [[Women's Basketball Coaches Association|Kodak]] All-American (1990–1992)
* 2× All-American – [[United States Basketball Writers Association|USBWA]] (1991, 1992)
* 3× First-team All-[[Atlantic Coast Conference|ACC]] (1990–1992)
* [[Atlantic Coast Conference women's basketball Rookie of the Year| ACC Rookie of the Year]] (1989)

'''As coach:'''
* 3× [[NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|NCAA Division I tournament]] champion ([[2017 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|2017]], [[2022 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|2022]], [[2024 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|2024]])
* 7× [[List of NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament Final Four appearances by coach|NCAA Division I regional champion – Final Four]] ([[2015 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|2015]], [[2017 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|2017]], [[2021 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|2021]]–[[2025 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|2025]])
* 9× [[SEC women's basketball tournament|SEC tournament]] champion (2015–2018, 2020–2021, 2023–2025)
* 9× [[Southeastern Conference|SEC]] regular season champion (2014–2017, 2020, 2022–2025)
* 4× [[Naismith College Coach of the Year|Naismith Coach of the Year]] (2020, 2022–2024)
* 4× [[WBCA National Coach of the Year Award|WBCA National Coach of the Year]] (2020, 2022–2024)
* 2× [[Associated Press College Basketball Coach of the Year#Women's|AP National Coach of the Year]] (2020, 2024)
* [[The Sporting News]] National Coach of the Year (2024)
* 4× [[USBWA Women's National Coach of the Year|USBWA National Coach of the Year]] (2020, 2022–2024)
* 7× SEC Coach of the Year (2014–2016, 2020, 2022–2024)
* 4× [[Atlantic 10 women's basketball tournament|A-10 tournament]] champion (2002, 2004–2006)
* 3× [[Atlantic 10 Conference|A-10]] regular-season champion (2004, 2005, 2008)
* 2× A-10 Coach of the Year (2004, 2005)
| HOF_player = dawn-staley
| womensHOF = dawn-staley
| FIBA_HOF_player = dawn-staley
| wnba_profile = dawn_staley
| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Women's [[basketball]]}}
{{MedalCountry|the {{bkw|USA}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Basketball at the Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[1996 Summer Olympics|1996 Atlanta]]|[[Basketball at the 1996 Summer Olympics#Women's tournament|Team]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2000 Summer Olympics|2000 Sydney]]|[[Basketball at the 2000 Summer Olympics#Women's tournament|Team]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2004 Summer Olympics|2004 Athens]]|[[Basketball at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Women's tournament|Team]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup|World Cup]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[1998 FIBA World Championship for Women|1998 Germany]] | [[United States women's national basketball team|Team]] }}
{{MedalGold | [[2002 FIBA World Championship for Women|2002 China]] | [[United States women's national basketball team|Team]] }}
{{MedalBronze | [[1994 FIBA World Championship for Women|1994 Australia]] | [[United States women's national basketball team|Team]] }}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Universiade]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[1991 Summer Universiade|1991 Sheffield]]|[[Basketball at the 1991 Summer Universiade|Team]]}}
{{MedalSport|Head coach for the {{Flagu|United States}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Basketball at the Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[Basketball at the 2020 Summer Olympics – Women's tournament|2020 Tokyo]]|[[Basketball at the 2020 Summer Olympics – Women's team rosters#United States|Team]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup|World Cup]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2018 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup|2018 Spain]]|[[2018 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup squads#United States|Team]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FIBA Women's AmeriCup|FIBA AmeriCup]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2019 FIBA Women's AmeriCup|2019 San Juan]]|[[2019 FIBA Women's AmeriCup squads#United States|Team]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2021 FIBA Women's AmeriCup|2021 San Juan]]|[[2021 FIBA Women's AmeriCup squads#United States|Team]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Pan American Games]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2007 Pan American Games|2007 Rio]]|[[Basketball at the 2007 Pan American Games#Women's|Team]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FIBA Under-19 Women's Basketball World Cup|U19 World Championship]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2015 FIBA Under-19 World Championship for Women|2015 Chekhov]]|[[FIBA Under-19 Women's Basketball World Cup|Team]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship|FIBA U18 Americas Championship]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2014 FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship|2014 Colorado Springs]]|[[2014 FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship|Team]]}}
| image_size = 250
}}
'''Dawn Michelle Staley''' (born May 4, 1970)<ref name="NCAA Coaches"/> is an American [[basketball]] coach and former player who is the head coach for the [[South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball|South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team]]. A [[point guard]], she played [[college basketball]] for the [[Virginia Cavaliers women's basketball|Virginia Cavaliers]] and spent eight seasons in the [[Women's National Basketball Association]] (WNBA), primarily with the [[Charlotte Sting]]. Staley also played on the [[United States women's national basketball team]], winning three gold medals at the [[Olympic Games]] from 1996 to 2004, and was the head coach of the team that won an Olympic gold medal in 2021<!--Olympic medals are not awarded to coaches-->.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Day |first=Meredith |date=August 6, 2021 |title=Team USA Women's Basketball Secures 7th Straight Gold Medal, Defeating Japan |url=https://www.nbcsportsboston.com/tokyo-olympics/team-usa-womens-basketball-secures-7th-straight-gold-medal-defeating-japan/186825 |access-date=March 25, 2024 |website=NBC Sports}}</ref> She is the only person to win the [[Naismith Award]] as both a player and a coach.

During her college career with Virginia from 1988 to 1992, Staley set the [[NCAA]] record for steals, the school record for points, and the [[Atlantic Coast Conference|ACC]] record for assists. She played professionally in the [[American Basketball League (1996–1998)|American Basketball League]] (ABL) during its three years of operation before being selected ninth overall by the Sting in the [[1999 WNBA draft]]. As a member of the Sting and the [[Houston Comets]], she received six consecutive [[WNBA All-Star]] selections from 2001 to her final season in 2006. Staley spent most of her WNBA career simultaneously serving as the head coach of the [[Temple Owls women's basketball|Temple Owls women's basketball team]] from 2000 to 2008, leading them to six NCAA tournaments, three regular-season conference championships, and four conference tournament titles.

After becoming South Carolina's head coach in 2008, Staley rebuilt the Gamecocks into one of the top women's basketball programs. During her 16 seasons, she has led South Carolina to nine SEC regular season championships, nine SEC tournament championships, eight [[NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament#Result by school and by year|Sweet Sixteens]], six [[NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament#Result by school and by year|Final Fours]], and three [[NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|NCAA women's basketball national championships]], including the school's first in 2017 and a [[perfect season]] in 2024.<ref>{{Cite news |title=South Carolina pounds UConn, 64-49, to take women's basketball championship|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/sports/south-carolina-pounds-uconn-64-49-take-womens-basketball-championship-rcna22777 |access-date=April 4, 2022 |website=NBC News |via=The Associated Press}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Titus |first=Payton |date=2024-04-04 |title=Best of the best: South Carolina's Dawn Staley named Naismith Coach of the Year |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/other/best-of-the-best-south-carolina-s-dawn-staley-named-naismith-coach-of-the-year/ar-BB1l1Sse |access-date=2024-04-08 |website=MSN.com |via=[[The Charlotte Observer]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=South Carolina wins 2024 national title: Gamecocks take down Caitlin Clark, Iowa; complete undefeated season |url=https://www.cbssports.com/womens-college-basketball/news/south-carolina-wins-2024-national-title-gamecocks-take-down-caitlin-clark-iowa-complete-undefeated-season/live/ |access-date=April 8, 2024 |website=CBS Sports}}</ref> Staley was inducted to the [[Women's Basketball Hall of Fame]] in 2012 and the [[Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame]] in 2013.

== Early life ==
Her parents, Clarence and Estelle Staley, moved to [[North Philadelphia]] from Orangeburg County, South Carolina in the 1950s, when they were still teenagers. They married young and in 1967 moved into a three-bedroom, single-bath [[row house]] in the Raymond Rosen Homes housing project. Together, Clarence, a part-time carpenter, and Estelle, a homemaker, raised five children—three boys, Lawrence, Anthony and Eric, and two girls, Tracey and Dawn.<ref>{{cite web |last=Glock |first=Allison |date=March 16, 2018 |title=For South Carolina coach Dawn Staley, the game is life and life is the game |url=https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/story/_/id/33268779 |access-date=March 25, 2024 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref> Fearful of her disciplinarian mother, who was of faith and would not spare the rod, Staley knew to "abide by her rules, you lived clean. You're good. You live a happy life".<ref>{{Cite web |title=286: Discipline and Mental Fortitude |url=https://findingmastery.com/podcasts/dawn-staley/ |access-date=2023-11-30 |website=Finding Mastery |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Playing career==

===High school years===
Staley was named the national high school player of the year during her final season at [[Murrell Dobbins Career and Technical Education High School|Murrell Dobbins Vocational High School]] in Philadelphia.

===College years===
Staley attended the [[University of Virginia]] (UVA) in [[Charlottesville, Virginia]], from which she earned her degree in Rhetoric and Communication Studies.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://virginiasports.com/news/2006/4/7/Dawn_Staley_to_be_Honored_With_UVa_s_Distinguished_Alumna_Award.aspx |title=Dawn Staley to be Honored With UVa's Distinguished Alumna Award |date=April 7, 2006 |website=Virginia Sports |access-date=August 3, 2018 }}</ref> During her four seasons in college, she led her team to four [[NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|NCAA tournaments]], three [[Final Four]]s and one national championship game. She was named the ACC female athlete of the year and the national player of the year in 1991 and 1992. Staley finished her college career with 2,135 points and held the NCAA record for career steals with 454 (which has since been broken by current record holder, Natalie White).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/w_basketball_RB/2018/D1.pdf |title=Division I Women's Basketball Records |publisher=NCAA |access-date=April 23, 2022 |page=3}}</ref> She finished her career at Virginia as the school's all-time scoring leader and as the ACC's all-time leader in assists at 729, but those records have since been broken by former UVA stars [[Monica Wright]] and [[Sharnee Zoll]]. Her number 24 is retired at UVA.

===Overseas Pro Career===
In 1994–1995, after graduation, Staley played professional basketball in [[France]] in [[Tarbes Gespe Bigorre|Tarbes]], [[Italy]], [[Brazil]], and [[Spain]] before joining the ABL and then the WNBA.

===USA Basketball===
Staley was named to the USA Basketball Women's Junior National Team (now called the [[United States women's national under-12 basketball team|U19 team]]). The team participated in the second Junior World Championship, held in [[Bilbao]], Spain, in July 1989. Team USA lost their opening game to South Korea in overtime, then lost a two-point game to Australia. After defeating Bulgaria, Team USA lost another close game, this time to Czechoslovakia by three points. The team followed that loss with a victory against Zaire, but dropped its final game to Spain, again by three points. Staley averaged 10.8 points per game and recorded 14 steals over the course of the event, both second highest on the team. The Americans finished the tournament in seventh place.<ref name="1989 U19"/>

Staley was named to the team representing the United States at the World University Games held during July 1991 in [[Sheffield]], England. While the American team had won gold in 1983, they finished with the silver in 1985, in fifth place in 1987, and did not field a team in 1989. The team was coached by [[Tara VanDerveer]] of Stanford. After winning opening games easily, Team USA faced China in the medal round. The Americans shot only 36% from the field, but limited the Chinese to just 35%, and advanced to the gold medal game by a score of 79–76. There they faced Spain, who had won all seven of their previous tournament games. However, Team USA defeated them easily, 88–62, to claim the gold medal. Staley averaged 4.9 points per game for the tournament.<ref name="1991 WUG"/>

Staley competed with [[USA Basketball]] as a member of the 1992 [[United States women's national basketball team#William Jones Cup|Jones Cup Team]] that won the Gold in [[Taipei]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.usab.com/womens/wjcup_1992.html|title=1992 WOMEN'S R. WILLIAM JONES CUP|access-date=August 3, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808043753/http://archive.usab.com/womens/wjcup_1992.html|archive-date=August 8, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Staley played for Team USA throughout her career. In 1994 she competed in the World Championships and was named the USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year. She led the 1996 team to an undefeated record of 8–0 and the gold medal at the [[1996 Summer Olympics|1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics]]. She was also a member of the [[Basketball at the 2000 Summer Olympics|2000 Olympic team]] that defended the gold medal.<ref>{{Cite web |title=STING: Dawn Staley: USA Basketball Legend |url=https://www.wnba.com/archive/wnba/sting/team/Dawn_Staley_USA_Basketball.html |access-date=2024-02-20 |website=WNBA.com}}</ref>

Staley was selected to represent the United States at the 1995 USA Women's Pan American Games, but only four teams committed to participate, so the event was cancelled.<ref name="1995 Pan Am"/>

Staley was named to the United States national team in 1998. The national team traveled to [[Berlin]], Germany, in July and August 1998 for the [[1998 FIBA World Championship for Women|FIBA World Championships]]. Team USA won a close opening game against Japan, 95–89, then won their next six games easily. In the semifinal game against Brazil, Team USA was behind as much as ten points in the first half, but went on to win, 93–79. The gold medal game was a rematch against Russia. In the first game, the Americans dominated almost from the beginning, but in the rematch, Russia took the early lead and led much of the way. With under two minutes remaining, Team USA was down by two points, but rallied and then held on to win the gold medal by a score of 71–65. Staley hit two free throws with ten seconds left to extend a three-point lead to five, then hit another free throw with three seconds left in the game to seal the 71–65 victory. Staley averaged 7.0 points per game and made a record 52 assists.<ref name="1998 WC"/>

In 2002, Staley was named to the national team which competed in the World Championships in [[Zhangjiagang]], [[Changzhou]] and [[Nanjing]], China. The team was coached by [[Van Chancellor]]. Staley scored 4.9 points per game, and recorded a team-high 24 assists. Team USA won all nine games, including a close title game against Russia, with the teams separated by only one point late in the game.<ref name="2002 WC"/>

She won a third gold medal with Team USA at the [[Basketball at the 2004 Summer Olympics|2004 Games]] in [[Athens]]. Her Olympic performance led to her being named 2004 USA Basketball Female Athlete Of The Year at the end of the year. Before the Games, she was selected to carry the flag of the United States during the parade of nations at the opening ceremony.

===ABL===
In 1996, she joined the [[Philadelphia Rage|Richmond Rage]] of the [[American Basketball League (1996–98)|American Basketball League]] (ABL) and led the team to the ABL finals in 1997. The following season, the team moved to Staley's hometown of [[Philadelphia]]. Staley was named the 1996–97 All-ABL first team and the All-ABL second team, the following season.

===WNBA===
In the [[1999 WNBA draft]], Staley was selected with the ninth overall pick by the [[Charlotte Sting]]. 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]]. Staley announced before the start of the WNBA season that she would be retiring after the Comets' season was over. The Comets made the playoffs and faced the [[Sacramento Monarchs]] in the first round. The Monarchs swept the Comets and won the series 2–0, ending Staley's career. In 2011, she was voted in by fans as one of the top 15 players in the 15-year history of the WNBA.<ref>{{cite web |title=WNBA.com: AllStar 2011 |url=http://www.wnba.com/allstar/2011/top15_072311.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121204173001/http://www.wnba.com/allstar/2011/top15_072311.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 4, 2012 |access-date=November 24, 2017 |website=WNBA.com}}</ref>

==Coaching career==

===Temple Owls (2000–2008)===
Staley had no interest in coaching when she was initially approached by the athletic director of [[Temple University]], Dave O'Brien. She was on the Olympic team at the time which was attending the [[2000 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|Final Four]] in Philadelphia. O'Brien, mindful that Staley was a Philadelphia native and star basketball player at Philadelphia's Dobbins Technical High School, talked her into visiting the campus, where she was guided to a conference room with a dozen people who were treating her visit as a job interview. When they asked her if she saw herself as a coach she replied "no, not at all". She initially resisted offers to become the coach. O'Brien changed his tactics and challenged her to identify some ways to turn the program around. She was still playing in the WNBA at the time and her friends told her it would be impossible to continue to play and coach. That challenge convinced her she should give coaching a try, and accepted the position of head coach at Temple.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wolken |first=Dan |date=March 14, 2016 |title=South Carolina's Dawn Staley emerging as new face of women's basketball |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaw/sec/2016/03/14/south-carolinas-dawn-staley-emerging-new-face-womens-basketball/81760334/ |access-date=March 16, 2016 |website=USA Today}}</ref> In her first season, 2000–01, Temple advanced to the [[Women's National Invitation Tournament|WNIT]]. In 2001, 2002 and 2004, her teams won the [[Atlantic 10 women's basketball tournament|Atlantic 10 tournament]] to qualify for the [[NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|NCAA tournament]].

In the 2004–05 season, Staley's Owls went 28–4, including a perfect 19–0 against Atlantic 10 opponents. However, they lost in the second round of the NCAA Tournament to [[Rutgers Scarlet Knights women's basketball|Rutgers University]]. Staley reached the 100-win plateau in the A-10 semifinals vs [[Xavier University]] that season, becoming the fastest coach in women's basketball to achieve that feat.

On May 7, 2008, it was confirmed by Temple University that Staley would leave Temple for the recently vacated coaching position at the [[University of South Carolina]]. She left Temple with the best overall record of 172–80, along with six NCAA appearances and four [[Atlantic 10 Conference|Atlantic 10]] titles.

===South Carolina Gamecocks (2008–present)===
At South Carolina she started rebuilding a program from scratch, suffering through two losing seasons at the start of her tenure. Starting with 10 wins during the 2008–09 season, she led the program to ever better finishes in each subsequent season, leading to the program's first number 1 ranking and Final Four appearance during the 2014–15 season. They picked up where they left off a year later, going undefeated in SEC play; however, they were upended in the Sweet 16 by Syracuse.

In 2016–17, the Gamecocks repeated as SEC regular-season and tournament champions for the third year in a row, and advanced to the second Final Four in school history. They defeated conference rival Mississippi State in the national championship game to win the first national title in school history.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Connolly |first=Matt |date=2017-04-02 |title=South Carolina wins NCAA women's national championship |url=https://www.thestate.com/sports/college/university-of-south-carolina/usc-womens-basketball/article142309749.html |access-date=2019-08-07 |website=thestate.com}}</ref> Staley became the second [[African American]] to lead a women's basketball team to a national championship; [[Carolyn Peck]] had coached [[Purdue Boilermakers women's basketball|Purdue]] to the [[1999 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|1999 national championship]]. After the 2017 win, ''[[The Post and Courier]]'' listed Staley first in their ranking of the 25 most powerful people in South Carolina sports.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sapakoff |first=Gene |title=The 25 most powerful people in South Carolina sports: Dawn Staley, Dabo Swinney top list that includes Bill Murray, Darius Rucker |url=https://www.postandcourier.com/columnists/the-25-most-powerful-people-in-south-carolina-sports-dawn-staley-dabo-swinney-top-list/article_1441b204-51fa-11e7-ac33-177731fbdc3c.html |access-date=21 March 2021 |work=[[The Post and Courier]] |date=June 24, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Buckner 2021">{{cite news |last=Buckner |first=Candace |title=Dawn Staley, another title in sight, won't stop speaking out: 'I can't not do it' |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/03/19/dawn-staley-south-carolina-basketball-protest/ |access-date=21 March 2021 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=March 19, 2021}}</ref>
[[File:Coach_Staley_with_fan.jpg|thumb|Coach Staley with a young fan after the February 13, 2020, win over Auburn]]
Under Staley the program has captured nine SEC regular season championships, nine SEC tournament titles, six Final Fours, three NCAA national championships, twelve Sweet Sixteen appearances, five SEC player of the year awards and five SEC freshman of the year awards. Staley herself has been awarded SEC coach of the year five times.

In 2020, Staley led the Gamecocks to a 32–1 season, winning yet another SEC regular season, and tournament championship. The Gamecocks finished #1 in both major polls before the NCAA tournament was cancelled. Staley swept the national coach of the year awards in 2020; she is the first person to win the Naismith award as a player and also as a coach.

In 2021, Staley led her team to a third Final Four, before losing a controversial game to Stanford 66–65.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 3, 2021 |title=Missed kick ball call ends in Stanford fast-break bucket |url=https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/31184741 |access-date=April 25, 2021 |website=ESPN}}</ref> Staley's Gamecocks signed the #1 class for the then-upcoming 2021–22 season.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Laflin |first1=Shane |last2=Key |first2=Jason |name-list-style=and |date=November 19, 2020 |title=2021 women's college basketball recruiting class rankings |url=https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/story/_/id/30342046 |access-date=April 25, 2021 |website=ESPN}}</ref> On October 15, 2021, Staley signed a seven-year, $22.4 million contract extension with South Carolina, making her the highest-paid Black college basketball coach in the country.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Coleman |first=Madeline |date=October 15, 2021 |title=Dawn Staley Receives Historic Contract Extension: 'Huge Statement For Women' |url=https://www.si.com/college/2021/10/15/dawn-staley-receives-historic-seven-year-contract-extension |access-date=October 30, 2021 |magazine=Sports Illustrated}}</ref>

In 2022 the Gamecocks were #1 in both polls for the entire season, they would go on to defeat 14 ranked teams, including [[2021–22 Stanford Cardinal women's basketball team|Stanford]], [[2021–22 UConn Huskies women's basketball team|UConn]], [[2021–22 NC State Wolfpack women's basketball team|NC State]], [[Oregon Ducks women's basketball|Oregon]], [[2021–22 Maryland Terrapins women's basketball team|Maryland]], [[2021–22 Duke Blue Devils women's basketball team|Duke]], [[2021–22 LSU Tigers women's basketball team|LSU]], [[2021–22 Tennessee Lady Volunteers basketball team|Tennessee]] and [[Georgia Lady Bulldogs basketball|Georgia]]. In the [[2022 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|NCAA tournament]], the Gamecocks defeated [[Howard Bison women's basketball|Howard]], [[2021–22 Miami Hurricanes women's basketball team|Miami]], [[2021–22 North Carolina Tar Heels women's basketball team|North Carolina]], [[2021–22 Creighton Bluejays women's basketball team|Creighton]], [[2021–22 Louisville Cardinals women's basketball team|Louisville]], and then [[2021–22 UConn Huskies women's basketball team|UConn]] again to win a second national championship. Staley is the first coach to defeat [[Geno Auriemma]], [[Tara VanDerveer]] and [[Kim Mulkey]] in the same season. Staley was again named Naismith Award winner, and coached the National Player of the Year [[Aliyah Boston]].

In 2022, following an alleged racist incident by a [[Brigham Young University]] fan against a member of the Duke women's volleyball team, Staley canceled the team's matchups against BYU in the 2022–23 and 2023–24 seasons.<ref>{{cite web |last=Guilbeau |first=Glenn |date=January 26, 2024 |title=South Carolina coach Dawn Staley still won't accept reality of unfounded racist claims involving BYU |url=https://www.foxnews.com/sports/south-carolina-coach-dawn-staley-still-wont-accept-reality-unfounded-racist-claims-involving-byu |access-date=March 25, 2024 |website=[[Fox News]]}}</ref> Despite an investigation that did not find evidence to corroborate the claim, Staley declined to reinstate the series.<ref>{{cite web |last=Dedaj |first=Paulina |date=September 9, 2022 |title=BYU completes investigation into Duke player's racial slur allegations, finds no evidence to corroborate claim |url=https://www.foxnews.com/sports/byu-completes-investigation-duke-players-racial-slur-allegations-finds-no-evidence-corroborate-claim |access-date=March 25, 2024 |website=[[Fox News]]}}</ref>

Staley won her 600th game on February 22, 2024, in 786 games (534 at South Carolina).<ref>{{cite web |date=February 22, 2024 |title=No. 1 South Carolina wins share of SEC regular-season title with 72-44 victory over Alabama |url=https://gamecocksonline.com/news/2024/02/22/no-1-south-carolina-wins-share-of-sec-regular-season-title-with-72-44-victory-over-alabama/ |access-date=February 23, 2024 |website=gamecocksonline.com}}</ref>

In 2024, Staley guided the team to a perfect 38–0 season, winning their third national title. Staley won her fourth Naismith Coach of the Year Award.

===USA Basketball===
Dawn Staley served as an assistant coach for the USA national team in 2006, a team in transition. [[Lisa Leslie]], who had led the team in scoring in the 2004 Olympics, the 2002 World Championships, the 2000 Olympics, the 1998 World Championships, and the 1996 Olympics was no longer on the team. [[Sheryl Swoopes]] was available but hampered by injuries, with Staley transitioning from player to coach. Newcomers [[Sue Bird]], [[Candace Parker]] and [[Diana Taurasi]] picked up the slack, but it was a team in transition. As an additional challenge, some members of the squad were unable to join the team for practices due to [[WNBA]] commitments. The team started out strong, winning each of the six preliminary games, including the game against Russia. In the quarterfinals, the USA team beat Spain 90–56. The semifinal was a rematch against Russia, but this time the Russian team prevailed, 75–68. The USA faced Brazil in the bronze medal game, and won easily 99–59.

During the [[2008 Summer Olympics]] in Beijing, China, Staley served as an assistant coach under Team USA head coach [[Anne Donovan]] and helped the Americans win their fourth straight gold medal in women's basketball and sixth in their past seven Olympic appearances.

After coaching Team USA to a gold medal at the 2007 Pan Am games, she served as head coach to the U17 Team in 2014 and the U19 Team in 2015, winning gold medals at the U18 Americas Championship and the U19 FIBA World Championship. The USA basketball organization awarded her the code national coach of the year award as a result of the U19 gold medal. She shared the award with [[Sean Miller]] who coached the U19 men's team to a gold medal.

She served as an assistant coach under Team USA head coach [[Geno Auriemma]] for the [[2016 Summer Olympics]] in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and helped the Americans win their sixth straight gold medal in women's basketball and eighth in their past nine Olympic appearances.

On March 10, 2017, she was named head coach of [[United States women's national basketball team|USA national women's team]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.usab.com/news-events/news/2017/03/dawn-staley-to-lead-usa-national-team.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170310193040/https://www.usab.com/news-events/news/2017/03/dawn-staley-to-lead-usa-national-team.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 10, 2017|title=Dawn Staley To Head USA National Team Through 2020|website=USA Basketball|access-date=September 16, 2017}}</ref>

At the [[2020 Summer Olympics]], Staley won her first gold medal as Team USA's Head coach, winning all six games and extending her record to 45–0. Staley also coached Team USA to a gold medal in the [[2018 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup|2018 World Cup]] in Spain and two gold medals in the [[2019 FIBA Women's AmeriCup|2019]] and [[FIBA Women's AmeriCup|2021 FIBA AmeriCups]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.usab.com/basketball/staff/s/staley-dawn.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200702064747/https://www.usab.com/basketball/staff/s/staley-dawn.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 2, 2020|title=Dawn Staley|access-date=June 29, 2021|website=USA Basketball}}</ref>

==Awards and honors==
Staley ranked number 2 on the [[The Post and Courier|Post and Courier]] Columbia's 2025 Power List.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Post and Courier Columbia |date=2025-12-16 |title=The Post and Courier Columbia’s 2025 Power List: 30 people getting stuff done in the capital city |url=https://www.postandcourier.com/columbia/news/post-and-courier-columbia-power-list-2025/article_5a3e81fd-fee8-4463-a04d-30446c46945d.html |access-date=2025-12-17 |website=Post and Courier |language=en}}</ref>

'''NCAA''' '''(Player)'''
* 1991 – Winner of the [[Honda Sports Award (basketball)|Honda Sports Award]] for basketball<ref name="Past Winners - basketball" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2006-04-10 |title=Sophia Young a Honda Award Finalist |url=https://baylorbears.com/news/2006/4/10/Sophia_Young_a_Honda_Award_Finalist.aspx |access-date=2020-03-30 |website=Baylor University Athletics}}</ref>
* 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<ref name="Honda Cup past winners" /><ref>{{Cite news|agency=Associated Press|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/01/12/sports/college-basketball-virginia-guard-honored-as-top-female-athlete.html|title=COLLEGE BASKETBALL; Virginia Guard Honored as Top Female Athlete|date=1992-01-12|work=The New York Times|access-date=2020-03-30|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
* 1992 – Winner of the Honda Sports Award for basketball<ref name="Past Winners - basketball" /><ref name=":0" />
* 1992 – WBCA Player of the Year
* 1992 – [[Naismith College Player of the Year]]
* 1992 – [[USBWA Women's National Player of the Year]] 
'''NCAA''' '''(Coach)'''
* 2014 – SEC Coach of the Year
* 2015 – SEC Co-Coach of the Year
* 2016 – SEC Coach of the Year
* 2020 – SEC Coach of the Year
* 2020 – [[Naismith College Coach of the Year]]
* 2020 – [[USBWA Women's National Coach of the Year|USBWA National Coach of the Year]]
* 2020 – [[Associated Press College Basketball Coach of the Year#Women's|AP National Coach of the Year]]
* 2020 – [[WBCA National Coach of the Year Award|WBCA National Coach of the Year]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wbca.org/about/press-releases/dawn-staley-named-2020-united-states-marine-corpswbca-ncaa-division-i-national|title=DAWN STALEY NAMED 2020 UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS/WBCA NCAA DIVISION I NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR|website=Women's Basketball Coaches Association|access-date=2020-04-01}}</ref>
* 2022 – SEC Coach of the Year
* 2022 – [[USBWA Women's National Coach of the Year]]
* 2022 – [[Naismith College Coach of the Year]]
* 2022 – [[WBCA National Coach of the Year Award|WBCA National Coach of the Year]]<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://wbca.org/about/press-releases/south-carolina%E2%80%99s-dawn-staley-named-2022-wbca-ncaa-division-i-national-coach|title=South Carolina's Dawn Staley named 2022 WBCA NCAA Division I National Coach of the Year|website=Women's Basketball Coaches Association|date=March 31, 2022|access-date=March 31, 2022}}</ref>
* 2023 – SEC Coach of the Year
* 2023 – USA Today Woman of the Year
* 2023 – [[USBWA Women's National Coach of the Year]]
* 2023 – [[Naismith College Coach of the Year]]
* 2023 – [[WBCA National Coach of the Year Award|WBCA National Coach of the Year]]
* 2024 – SEC Coach of the Year
* 2024 – [[The Athletic]] Coach of the Year
* 2024 – [[USBWA Women's National Coach of the Year]]
* 2024 – [[The Sporting News]] National Coach of the Year
* 2024 – [[Naismith College Coach of the Year]]
* 2024 – [[Associated Press College Basketball Coach of the Year#Women's|AP National Coach of the Year]]
* 2024 – [[WBCA National Coach of the Year Award|WBCA National Coach of the Year]]
* 2024 – [[Jimmy V Award]]
'''Halls of Fame'''

* 2008 – Inducted into the [[Virginia Sports Hall of Fame]]<ref name="auto1">{{Cite news |title=Former UVa Great Dawn Staley Named To Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2012 |url=http://www.virginiasports.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/072311aaa.html |access-date=October 3, 2017 |archive-date=October 3, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171003224625/http://www.virginiasports.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/072311aaa.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* 2012 – Inducted into the [[Women's Basketball Hall of Fame]]<ref name="auto1"/>

'''State/local'''

* 2013 – Awarded the [[Order of the Palmetto]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Staley to be Awarded Order of the Palmetto |url=http://www.gamecocksonline.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/111513aaa.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170413071510/http://www.gamecocksonline.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/111513aaa.html |archive-date=April 13, 2017 |access-date=November 24, 2017 |website=GamecocksOnline.com}}</ref>
* 2017 – [[Omicron Delta Kappa]] faculty/staff initiate at the University of South Carolina
* 2025 - [[Daniel Rickenmann]], mayor of [[Columbia, South Carolina]], declared the month of May "Dawn Staley Month."<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/sports/college/usc/2025/04/30/dawn-staley-statue-south-carolina-womens-basketball-coach/83279598007/|title=What South Carolina coach Dawn Staley hopes people see when they look at her statue|first=Lulu|last=Kesin|website=The Greenville News|accessdate=May 2, 2025}}</ref>
* 2025 - Statue of Staley unveiled in [[Columbia, South Carolina]], at the intersection of Senate Street and Lincoln Street outside the Pastides Alumni Center.<ref name="auto"/>

'''National'''

* 2015 – [[USA Basketball]] Co-National Coach of the Year<ref name="USA COY" />
* 2021 – USA Basketball Co-National Coach of the year<ref>{{cite web |date=15 December 2021 |title=Staley Named USA Basketball co-Coach of the Year |url=https://gamecocksonline.com/news/2021/12/15/womens-basketball-staley-named-usa-basketball-co-coach-of-the-year.aspx |access-date=2021-12-15 |website=Gamecocks Online}}</ref>

==Career statistics==

===College===
Source<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/w_basketball_RB/misc/wbbfinest.pdf|title=Women's Basketball Finest|website=fs.ncaa.org|access-date=October 3, 2017}}</ref>
{{NBA player statistics legend}}
{| class="wikitable"
!Year
!Team
!GP
!Points
!FG%
!3P%
!FT%
!RPG
!APG
!SPG
!BPG
!PPG
|-
|1989
|Virginia
|31
|'''574'''
|45.7%
|'''35.5%'''
|'''83.1%'''
|5.1
|4.6
|3.3
|0.3
|'''18.5'''
|-
|1990
|Virginia
|32
|'''574'''
|45.2%
|34.6%
|78.1%
|'''6.7'''
|4.4
|3.2
|'''0.5'''
|17.9
|-
|1991
|Virginia
|'''34'''
|495
|45.0%
|32.4%
|82.4%
|6.1
|'''6.9'''
|'''3.9'''
|0.3
|14.6
|-
|1992
|Virginia
|'''34'''
|492
|'''48.4%'''
|30.3%
|80.8%
|5.6
|6.1
|3.4
|'''0.5'''
|14.5
|-
|Career
|
|131
|2135
|46.0%
|33.4%
|81.1%
|5.9
|5.6
|3.5
|0.4
|16.3
|}

===WNBA===
{{WNBA player statistics legend}}

====Regular season====
{{WNBA player statistics start}}
|-
| align="left" | [[1999 WNBA season|1999]]
| align="left" | [[1999 Charlotte Sting season|Charlotte]]
| 32 || 32 || 33.3 || .415 || .317 || '''.934''' || 2.3 || 5.5 || 1.2 || 0.1 || 2.81 || '''11.5'''
|-
| align="left" | [[2000 WNBA season|2000]]
| align="left" | [[2000 Charlotte Sting season|Charlotte]]
| 32 || 32 || 34.3 || .372 || .330 || .878 || '''2.4''' || '''5.9''' || 1.2 || 0.0 || 2.84 || 8.8
|-
| align="left" | [[2001 WNBA season|2001]]
| align="left" | [[2001 Charlotte Sting season|Charlotte]]
| 32 || 32 || '''36.0''' || .381 || .371 || .895 || 2.2 || 5.6 || '''1.6''' || 0.0 || 3.13 || 9.3
|-
| align="left" | [[2002 WNBA season|2002]]
| align="left" | [[2002 Charlotte Sting season|Charlotte]]
| 32 || 32 || 33.2 || .364 || .398 || .762 || 1.8 || 5.1 || 1.5 || 0.0 || 2.50 || 8.7
|-
| align="left" | [[2003 WNBA season|2003]]
| align="left" | [[2003 Charlotte Sting season|Charlotte]]
| '''34''' || '''34''' || 31.9 || .417 || .389 || .836 || 1.7 || 5.1 || 1.4 || 0.1 || 2.29 || 7.9
|-
| align="left" | [[2004 WNBA season|2004]]
| align="left" | [[2004 Charlotte Sting season|Charlotte]]
| '''34''' || '''34''' || 33.6 || '''.431''' || .407 || .759 || 1.7 || 5.0 || 1.3 || 0.1 || 2.18 || 8.9
|-
| align="left" | [[2005 WNBA season|2005]]*
| align="left" | [[2005 Charlotte Sting season|Charlotte]]
| 23 || 23 || 29.7 || .405 || .405 || .767 || 2.3 || 5.3 || 1.3 || 0.0 || 1.83 || 6.3
|-
| align="left" | [[2005 WNBA season|2005]]*
| align="left" | [[2005 Houston Comets season|Houston]]
| 10 || 3 || 22.1 || .357 || .286 || .900 || 1.7 || 2.8 || 0.6 || 0.1 || 1.20 || 3.3
|-
| align="left" | [[2005 WNBA season|2005]]
| align="left" | Totals
| 33 || 26 || 27.4 || .396 || .375 || .800 || 2.1 || 4.5 || 1.1 || 0.0 || '''1.64''' || 5.4
|-
| align="left" | [[2006 WNBA season|2006]]
| align="left" | [[2006 Houston Comets season|Houston]]
| '''34''' || '''34''' || 29.9 || .420 || '''.427''' || .806 || 2.2 || 3.9 || 1.0 || '''0.2''' || 2.24 || 7.4
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |8 years, 2 teams
| 263 || 256 || 32.4 || .399 || .376 || .824 || 2.0 || 5.1 || 1.3 || 0.1 || 2.44 || 7.5
{{S-end}}

====Playoffs====
{{WNBA player statistics start}}
|-
| align="left" | [[1999 WNBA playoffs|1999]]
| align="left" | [[1999 Charlotte Sting season|Charlotte]]
| 4 || 4 || '''39.3''' || .325 || .438 || .833 || 1.3 || '''5.8''' || 0.8 || 0.0 || 2.75 || '''12.0'''
|-
| align="left" | [[2001 WNBA playoffs|2001]]
| align="left" | [[2001 Charlotte Sting season|Charlotte]]
| '''8''' || '''8''' || 37.6 || .416 || .500 || .810 || 2.3 || 4.4 || 1.1 || '''0.3''' || 4.25 || 11.8
|-
| align="left" | [[2002 WNBA Playoffs|2002]]
| align="left" | [[2002 Charlotte Sting season|Charlotte]]
| 2 || 2 || 39.0 || .286 || .200 || .500 || '''2.5''' || 5.0 || 1.5 || 0.0 || 2.00 || 8.5
|-
| align="left" | [[2003 WNBA Playoffs|2003]]
| align="left" | [[2003 Charlotte Sting season|Charlotte]]
| 2 || 2 || 29.0 || .353 || '''.500''' || .400 || '''2.5''' || 3.5 || '''2.0''' || 0.0 || 2.00 || 9.0
|-
| align="left" | [[2005 WNBA Playoffs|2005]]
| align="left" | [[2005 Houston Comets season|Houston]]
| 5 || 0 || 25.0 || '''.462''' || .375 || '''.857''' || 0.8 || 2.8 || 1.8 || 0.0 || '''1.40''' || 4.2
|-
| align="left" | [[2006 WNBA Playoffs|2006]]
| align="left" | [[2006 Houston Comets season|Houston]]
| 2 || 2 || 20.0 || .143 || .333 || .000 || '''2.5''' || 1.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 2.00 || 1.5
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |6 years, 2 teams
| 23 || 18 || 33.0 || .366 || .423 || .754 || 1.8 || 4.0 || 1.2 || 0.1 || 2.78 || 8.7
{{s-end}}

===Head coaching record===
{{CBB Yearly Record Start | type=coach | conference= |postseason=}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead
|name=[[Temple Owls women's basketball|Temple Owls]]
|startyear=2000
|conference=[[Atlantic 10 Conference]]
|endyear=2008
|}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = {{nowrap|2000–01}}
 | name         = Temple
 | overall      = 19–11
 | conference   = 11–5
 | confstanding = 3rd
 | postseason   = [[Women's National Invitation Tournament|WNIT First Round]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = conference tournament
 | season       = 2001–02
 | name         = Temple
 | overall      = 20–11
 | conference   = 12–4
 | confstanding = T–1st <small> (East)</small>
 | postseason   = [[2002 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|NCAA First Round]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship =
 | season       = 2002–03
 | name         = Temple
 | overall      = 14–15
 | conference   = 9–7
 | confstanding = 2nd <small> (East)</small>
 | postseason   =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = confboth
 | season       = 2003–04
 | name         = Temple
 | overall      = 21–10
 | conference   = 14–2
 | confstanding = 1st <small> (East)</small>
 | postseason   = [[2004 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|NCAA First Round]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = confboth
 | season       = 2004–05
 | name         = Temple
 | overall      = 28–4
 | conference   = 16–0
 | confstanding = 1st <small> (East)</small>
 | postseason   = [[2005 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|NCAA Second Round]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = conference tournament
 | season       = 2005–06
 | name         = Temple
 | overall      = 24–8
 | conference   = 12–4
 | confstanding = 3rd
 | postseason   = [[2006 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|NCAA First Round]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = 2006–07
 | name         = Temple
 | overall      = 25–8
 | conference   = 13–1
 | confstanding = 2nd
 | postseason   = [[2007 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|NCAA Second Round]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = conference
 | season       = 2007–08
 | name         = Temple
 | overall      = 21–13
 | conference   = 12–2
 | confstanding = T–1st
 | postseason   = [[2008 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|NCAA First Round]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
 | name       = Temple
 | overall    = {{Winning percentage|172|80|record=y}}
 | confrecord = {{Winning percentage|99|25|record=y}}
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead
|name=[[South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball|South Carolina Gamecocks]]
|startyear=2008
|conference=[[Southeastern Conference]]
|endyear=
|}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = 2008–09
 | name         = South Carolina
 | overall      = 10–18
 | conference   = 2–12
 | confstanding = 11th
 | postseason   = 
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = [[2009–10 NCAA Division I women's basketball season|2009–10]]
 | name         = South Carolina
 | overall      = 14–15
 | conference   = 7–9
 | confstanding = T–7th
 | postseason   = 
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = 2010–11
 | name         = South Carolina
 | overall      = 18–15
 | conference   = 8–8
 | confstanding = T–5th
 | postseason   = [[2011 Women's National Invitation Tournament|WNIT Second Round]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = 2011–12
 | name         = South Carolina
 | overall      = 25–10
 | conference   = 10–6
 | confstanding = T–4th
 | postseason   = [[2012 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|NCAA Sweet Sixteen]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = [[2012–13 NCAA Division I women's basketball season|2012–13]]
 | name         = South Carolina
 | overall      = 25–8
 | conference   = 11–5
 | confstanding = T–4th
 | postseason   = [[2013 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|NCAA Second Round]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = conference
 | season       = [[2013–14 NCAA Division I women's basketball season|2013–14]]
 | name         = [[2013–14 South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team|South Carolina]]
 | overall      = 29–5
 | conference   = 14–2
 | confstanding = 1st
 | postseason   = [[2014 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|NCAA Sweet Sixteen]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = confboth
 | season       = [[2014–15 NCAA Division I women's basketball season|2014–15]]
 | name         = [[2014–15 South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team|South Carolina]]
 | overall      = 34–3
 | conference   = 15–1
 | confstanding = T–1st
 | postseason   = [[2015 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|NCAA Final Four]] 
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = confboth
 | season       = [[2015–16 NCAA Division I women's basketball season|2015–16]]
 | name         = [[2015–16 South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team|South Carolina]]
 | overall      = 33–2
 | conference   = 16–0
 | confstanding = 1st
 | postseason   = [[2016 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|NCAA Sweet Sixteen]] 
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = national
 | season = [[2016–17 NCAA Division I women's basketball season|2016–17]]
 | name = [[2016–17 South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team|South Carolina]]
 | overall = 33–4
 | conference = 14–2
 | confstanding = 1st
 | postseason = [[2017 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|'''NCAA Champions''']]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = conference tournament
 | season = [[2017–18 NCAA Division I women's basketball season|2017–18]]
 | name = [[2017–18 South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team|South Carolina]]
 | overall = 29–7
 | conference = 12–4
 | confstanding = T–2nd
 | postseason = [[2018 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|NCAA Elite Eight]] 
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season = [[2018–19 NCAA Division I women's basketball season|2018–19]]
 | name = [[2018–19 South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team|South Carolina]]
 | overall = 23–10
 | conference = 13–3
 | confstanding = 2nd
 | postseason = [[2019 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|NCAA Sweet Sixteen]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = confboth
 | season = [[2019–20 NCAA Division I women's basketball season|2019–20]]
 | name = [[2019–20 South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team|South Carolina]]
 | overall = 32–1
 | conference = 16–0
 | confstanding = 1st
 | postseason = <SMALL> Tournament canceled - [[COVID-19]]</SMALL>
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = conference tournament
 | season = [[2020–21 NCAA Division I women's basketball season|2020–21]]
 | name = [[2020–21 South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team|South Carolina]]
 | overall = 26–5
 | conference = 14–2
 | confstanding = 2nd
 | postseason = [[2021 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|NCAA Final Four]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = national
| season = [[2021–22 NCAA Division I women's basketball season|2021–22]]
| name = [[2021–22 South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team|South Carolina]]
| overall = 35–2
| conference = 15–1
| confstanding = 1st
| postseason = [[2022 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|'''NCAA Champions''']]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = confboth
| season = [[2022–23 NCAA Division I women's basketball season|2022–23]]
| name = [[2022–23 South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team|South Carolina]]
| overall = 36–1
| conference = 16–0
| confstanding = 1st
| postseason = [[2023 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|NCAA Final Four]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = national
| season = [[2023–24 NCAA Division I women's basketball season|2023–24]]
| name = [[2023–24 South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team|South Carolina]]
| overall = 38–0
| conference = 16–0
| confstanding = 1st
| postseason = [[2024 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|'''NCAA Champions''']]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = confboth
| season = [[2024–25 NCAA Division I women's basketball season|2024–25]]
| name = [[2024–25 South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team|South Carolina]]
| overall = 35–4
| conference = 15–1
| confstanding = T–1st
| postseason = [[2025 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|NCAA Runner-up]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = 
| season = [[2025–26 NCAA Division I women's basketball season|2025–26]]
| name = [[2025–26 South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team|South Carolina]]
| overall = 11–1
| conference = 0–0
| confstanding = 
| postseason = 
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
 | name       = South Carolina
 | overall    = {{Winning percentage|486|111|record=y}}
 | confrecord = {{Winning percentage|214|56|record=y}}
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record End
 |overall= {{Winning percentage|658|191|record=y}}
}}

==Personal life==
Staley is a [[Christianity|Christian]] and routinely thanks [[God in Christianity|God]] after games. On Easter Sunday 2024, Staley said postgame "He is risen" referring to the [[resurrection of Jesus|resurrection of Jesus Christ]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hoole |first=Beth |date=April 8, 2024 |title=Staley praises God in post-game comments, sparking conversation|url=https://www.foxcarolina.com/2024/04/01/staleys-praises-god-post-game-comments-sparking-conversation/|access-date=April 8, 2024 |website=Fox Carolina}}</ref> After her team won the 2024 National title, Staley thanked [[Jesus in Christianity|Jesus]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Reyes |first=Lorenzo |date=April 8, 2024 |title=After NCAA title win, Dawn Staley spoke about her faith. It's nothing new for SC coach. |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaw/finalfour/2024/04/08/dawn-staley-south-carolina-title-win-faith-religion/73243193007/|access-date=April 8, 2024 |website=USA Today}}</ref>

Staley heads the Dawn Staley Foundation, which focuses on academics and athletics and sponsors basketball leagues and other fund-raising activities.<ref>{{cite web |title=COMETS: WNBA creates the Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award |url=https://www.wnba.com/archive/wnba/comets/news/WNBA_creates_the_Dawn_Staley_C-194469-222.html |website=WNBA.com |access-date=20 December 2024}}</ref>

Staley hosted a podcast, ''Netlife'', produced by ''[[Just Women's Sports]]'', beginning in January 2022.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.insider.com/dawn-staley-dream-podcast-guests-barack-obama-mother-teresa-oprah-2022-1|title=Dawn Staley has an ambitious list of dream guests — including world leaders and TV legends — for her new podcast|last=Cash|first=Meredith|date=2022-01-29|work=[[Business Insider|Insider]]|access-date=2023-07-19}}</ref>

Staley owns a [[Havanese dog]] named Champ, who has his own Twitter account, and frequently visits practices.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cloninger |first=David |date=January 20, 2019 |title=Dawn Staley's dog Champ has his own legion of South Carolina fans |url=https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/dawn-staleys-dog-champ-has-his-own-legion-of-south-carolina-fans/article_d23981fe-14ec-11e9-a7ee-cfd97d756a99.html |access-date=August 8, 2021 |website=The Post and Courier}}</ref>

Staley is a fan of the [[NFL]]'s [[Philadelphia Eagles]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bell |first=Daryl |date=2017-04-10 |title=Dawn Staley has always had a special relationship with Philadelphia |url=https://andscape.com/features/dawn-staley-relationship-with-philadelphia/ |access-date=2023-03-07 |website=Andscape |language=en-US}}</ref> Throughout the [[2022 NFL season]], Staley was often seen wearing their jerseys while coaching the Gamecocks.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Darney |first=Caroline |date=2023-02-12 |title=Dawn Staley repped her hometown Philadelphia Eagles with an iconic jersey as South Carolina faced LSU |url=https://ftw.usatoday.com/2023/02/dawn-staley-philadelphia-eagles-jersey-super-bowl-2023 |access-date=2023-03-07 |website=For The Win|publisher=USA Today |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Book==
* Staley, Dawn (2025). ''Uncommon Favor: Basketball, North Philly, My Mother, and the Life Lessons I Learned from All Three''. New York: Black Privilege Publishing/Atria.  {{ISBN|978-1668023365}} 

==See also==
*[[List of college women's basketball career coaching wins leaders]]

==References==
{{Reflist|refs=

<ref name="NCAA Coaches">{{cite web|title=Women's Basketball Coaches Career|url=http://web1.ncaa.org/stats/StatsSrv/careercoach|website=NCAA|access-date=September 23, 2015}}</ref>

<ref name="1989 U19">{{cite web|title=Second FIBA Women's U19/Junior World Championship – 1989|date=June 10, 2010|url=http://www.usab.com/history/u19-womens/second-FIBA-womens-u19junior-world-championship-1989.aspx|publisher=USA Basketball|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907033052/http://www.usab.com/history/u19-womens/second-FIBA-womens-u19junior-world-championship-1989.aspx|archive-date=September 7, 2015|url-status=dead|access-date=October 20, 2015}}</ref>

<ref name="1991 WUG">{{cite web|title=Fifteenth World University Games – 1993|url=http://www.usab.com/history/world-university-games-womens/fifteenth-world-university-games-1991.aspx|publisher=USA Basketball|access-date=October 12, 2015| archive-url     = https://web.archive.org/web/20150907023628/http://www.usab.com/history/world-university-games-womens/fifteenth-world-university-games-1991.aspx | archive-date    =September 7, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref name="1995 Pan Am">{{cite web|title=Twelfth<!-- "Twelvth" in original --> Pan American Games – 1995|date=June 10, 2010|url=http://www.usab.com/history/pan-am-womens/twelvth-pan-american-games-1995-1.aspx|publisher=USA Basketball|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150929045436/http://www.usab.com/history/pan-am-womens/twelvth-pan-american-games-1995-1.aspx|archive-date=September 29, 2015|url-status=dead|access-date=October 15, 2015}}</ref>

<ref name="1998 WC">{{cite web|title=Thirteenth World Championship For Women – 1998|date=June 10, 2010|url=http://www.usab.com/history/national-team-womens/thirteenth-world-championship-for-women-1998.aspx|publisher=USA Basketball|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905203810/http://www.usab.com/history/national-team-womens/thirteenth-world-championship-for-women-1998.aspx|archive-date=September 5, 2015|url-status=dead|access-date=October 19, 2015}}</ref>

<ref name="2002 WC">{{cite web|title=Fourteenth World Championship For Women – 2002|date=June 10, 2010|url=http://www.usab.com/history/national-team-womens/fourteenth-world-championship-for-women-2002.aspx|publisher=USA Basketball|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905200622/http://www.usab.com/history/national-team-womens/fourteenth-world-championship-for-women-2002.aspx|archive-date=September 5, 2015|url-status=dead|access-date=October 19, 2015}}</ref>

<ref name="USA COY">{{cite web|title=Staley Named USA Basketball Co-National Coach of the Year|date= December 16, 2015|url=http://www.thestate.com/sports/college/university-of-south-carolina/usc-womens-basketball/article50070470.html|website=thestate.com|access-date=December 22, 2015}}</ref>

<ref name="Past Winners - basketball">{{cite journal|title=PAST HONDA SPORTS AWARD WINNERS FOR BASKETBALL|url=http://www.collegiatewomensportsawards.com/archives/basketball|journal=THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards Program|access-date=May 8, 2014}}</ref>

<ref name="Honda Cup past winners">{{cite journal|title=Past Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year Winners (Honda Cup)|url=http://www.collegiatewomensportsawards.com/archives/aoty_awards|journal=THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards Program|access-date=May 8, 2014}}</ref>

}}

==External links==
{{commons}}
* {{FIBA profile|new_id=20557-dawn-michelle-staley|name=Dawn Michelle Staley|old_id=6711}}
* {{Olympedia}}
* {{Olympics.com|dawn-staley}}

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