Dawn Staley
University of South Carolina
Dawn Staley received the John R. Wooden Award “Legends of Coaching” honor in 2023. Staley, a native of Philadelphia. began her coaching career at Temple University, where she led the Owls to six NCAA tournament appearances in her eight years at the helm. She has guided the University of South Carolina to incredible heights in her 14 years as head coach. She has led the Gamecocks to two National Championships (2017 & 2022), four Final Fours, six SEC regular season championships, six SEC tournament championships and has coached two Wooden Award winners (A’ja Wilson in 2018 & Aliyah Boston in 2022). She has also won three Olympic gold medals as a coach for Team USA, two as an assistant coach (2008 & 2016) and one as the head coach (2020). Staley was a two-time National Player of the Year at the University of Virginia and led the Cavaliers to three Final Fours and was named Most Outstanding Player of the 1991 tournament.