When Dawn Staley’s South Carolina Gamecocks defeated the Caitlin Clark led Iowa Hawkeyes on April 7, she became the first Black Division 1 basketball head coach – male or female – to win three national championships. No other.

Staley has proven adept at making history on the basketball court, as a player and as a coach.

She appears ready to continue her dominance this year. As of today, her Gamecocks are 4-0, and are again ranked the No.1 team in the nation. The team’s quick start, despite the loss of first-round WNBA draft pick Kamilla Cardoso, attests to Staley’s uncanny ability to always have her team ready to play.

Staley’s immense success as a player has unquestionably played a significant role in her development as a coach. She attributes that success to navigating a demanding childhood in the projects of North Philadelphia, and to a mother that consistently emphasized the importance of self-discipline.

Growing up in Philadelphia’s Raymond Rosen Homes, Staley shared meager accommodations with her mother and father, along with four other siblings. Growing up in this busy environment fueled her competitive nature, as there was often a sense of urgency when it came to food, attention, and personal space.

Staley used her passion for sports (including tackle football) to provide pacification during her time in the Philly housing community. In an episode of The Pivot, she stated that sports were the means she used to keep herself out of trouble.

The future WNBA All-star and Olympics gold medalist enjoyed significant success as a high schooler. After completing her senior year at Philadelphia’s Dobbins Tech, Staley was named the National Player of the Year by USA Today. She chose to attend the University of Virginia, where her play earned her consecutive National Player of the Year selections. Her career stats of more than 2,000 points, 700 rebounds, 700 assists and 400 steals in the Atlantic Coast Conference is unprecedented; no male or female in the ACC has achieved comparable results (that list includes Michael Jordan, Grant Hill, Len Bias, and Vince Carter).

Staley’s enthusiasm has reinvigorated the women’s basketball program in Columbia. The Gamecocks have led the nation in attendance for the last 10 years. The stands are not the only area that is vastly improved; the squad’s recruiting efforts have also paid significant dividends. South Carolina is now a No. 1 destination for recruits; the university has finished top-two in the nation three times in the last five years.

Lessons learned from her mother about discipline serve as her credo. Staley’s mother was a disciplinarian. As such, Staley feels that the primary reason for her successes is based on her mother’s insistence that self-discipline can get you anywhere you want to be. 

Despite being one of the most accomplished collegiate basketball figures in the history of the sport, Staley remains mindful of the pioneers that created opportunities for her and so many others. She counts college basketball legends C. Vivian Stringer and Yolanda Laney as significant influences.

Staley has created a powerhouse at the University of South Carolina. And with continuing contributions from players such as senior Te-Hina Paopao (13.5 ppg) and sophomore MiLaysia Fulwiley (14.3 ppg), the Gamecocks appear poised to again dominate the SEC.