Career Timeline of Dawn Staley: Major Achievements and Milestones

Discover the career path of Dawn Staley, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Dawn Staley is an accomplished American basketball coach and former player. As a player, she excelled as a point guard for the Virginia Cavaliers and in the WNBA, primarily with the Charlotte Sting. She also achieved significant success on the United States women's national basketball team, securing three Olympic gold medals. Transitioning to coaching, she currently leads the South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team and coached the U.S. women's national team to another Olympic gold in 2021. Staley is the only individual to win the Naismith Award as both a player and a coach, marking her exceptional contributions to the sport.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1988: College Career at Virginia Begins

In 1988, Dawn Staley began her college basketball career with the Virginia Cavaliers.

July 1989: Junior World Championship

In July 1989, Dawn Staley participated in the second Junior World Championship held in Bilbao, Spain, as part of the USA Basketball Women's Junior National Team. The team finished seventh, and Staley averaged 10.8 points per game.

July 1991: World University Games Gold Medal

In July 1991, Dawn Staley represented the United States at the World University Games held in Sheffield, England, and won a gold medal with the team. She averaged 4.9 points per game during the tournament.

1992: Jones Cup Gold Medal

In 1992, Dawn Staley competed with USA Basketball as a member of the Jones Cup Team, winning the Gold in Taipei.

1992: College Career Ends

In 1992, Dawn Staley concluded her college basketball career at the University of Virginia. During her time there, she set the NCAA record for steals, a school record for points, and an ACC record for assists.

1994: USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year

In 1994, Dawn Staley competed in the World Championships and was named the USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year.

1994: Professional Basketball in Europe

In 1994, after graduating, Dawn Staley began playing professional basketball in France, Italy, Brazil, and Spain.

1995: Professional Basketball in Europe

In 1995, Dawn Staley continued playing professional basketball in France, Italy, Brazil, and Spain.

1995: Pan American Games Cancelled

In 1995, Dawn Staley was selected to represent the United States at the USA Women's Pan American Games; however, the event was cancelled due to low participation.

1996: Joins Richmond Rage

In 1996, Dawn Staley joined the Richmond Rage of the American Basketball League (ABL).

1996: Olympic Gold Medal in Atlanta

In 1996, Dawn Staley led the USA team to an undefeated record and won the gold medal at the Atlanta Summer Olympics.

1996: Olympics

In 1996, Lisa Leslie led the team in scoring.

1997: ABL Finals

In 1997, Dawn Staley led the Richmond Rage to the ABL finals.

August 1998: FIBA World Championships Gold Medal

In August 1998, Dawn Staley participated in the FIBA World Championships in Berlin, Germany, where Team USA won the gold medal after defeating Russia in the final game. Staley averaged 7.0 points per game and made a record 52 assists.

1998: World Championships

In 1998, Lisa Leslie led the team in scoring.

1999: Carolyn Peck Wins National Championship

In 1999, Carolyn Peck coached Purdue to the national championship.

1999: Drafted by Charlotte Sting

In 1999, Dawn Staley was selected by the Charlotte Sting with the ninth overall pick in the WNBA draft.

1999: Selected in WNBA Draft

In 1999, Dawn Staley was selected ninth overall by the Charlotte Sting in the WNBA draft.

2000: Becomes Temple Owls Head Coach

In 2000, Dawn Staley accepted the position of head coach at Temple University while still playing in the WNBA.

2000: Head Coach of Temple Owls

In 2000, Dawn Staley began her tenure as the head coach of the Temple Owls women's basketball team, while still actively playing in the WNBA.

2000: Olympic Gold Medal

In 2000, Dawn Staley was a member of the Olympic team that defended their gold medal.

2001: WNBA Championship Game

In 2001, Dawn Staley led the Charlotte Sting to the championship game of the WNBA playoffs.

2001: First WNBA All-Star Selection

In 2001, Dawn Staley received the first of six consecutive WNBA All-Star selections, marking a significant achievement in her professional career.

2001: Temple Advances to WNIT

In the 2000-01 season, Dawn Staley's first as head coach, Temple advanced to the WNIT.

2002: World Championships Gold Medal

In 2002, Dawn Staley was named to the national team which competed in the World Championships in China, where the team won all nine games, including the title game against Russia. Staley scored 4.9 points per game and recorded a team-high 24 assists.

2002: Atlantic 10 Tournament

In 2002, Dawn Staley's Temple Owls team won the Atlantic 10 tournament, qualifying for the NCAA tournament.

2004: Third Olympic Gold Medal

In 2004, Dawn Staley won her third gold medal at the Olympic Games as part of the United States women's national basketball team.

2004: Third Olympic Gold Medal and Flag Bearer

In 2004, Dawn Staley won her third gold medal with Team USA at the Athens Olympics and was also selected to carry the flag of the United States during the opening ceremony. She was later named 2004 USA Basketball Female Athlete Of The Year.

2004: Atlantic 10 Tournament

In 2004, Dawn Staley's Temple Owls team won the Atlantic 10 tournament, qualifying for the NCAA tournament.

2004: Olympics

In 2004, Lisa Leslie led the team in scoring.

2004: Owls' Season and Coaching Milestone

In the 2004-05 season, Dawn Staley's Temple Owls went 28-4. She 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.

August 1, 2005: Traded to Houston Comets

On August 1, 2005, Dawn Staley was traded to the Houston Comets in the WNBA.

2006: Final WNBA Season

2006 marked Dawn Staley's final season in the WNBA, concluding a successful professional playing career.

2006: Assistant Coach for USA National Team

In 2006, Dawn Staley served as an assistant coach for the transitioning USA national team, which included newcomers like Sue Bird, Candace Parker, and Diana Taurasi. The team won the bronze medal at the World Championships.

2007: Coaching Team USA to Gold at Pan Am Games

In 2007, Dawn Staley coached Team USA to a gold medal at the Pan Am Games.

May 7, 2008: Leaves Temple for South Carolina

On May 7, 2008, Dawn Staley left her position at Temple University to become the head coach at the University of South Carolina. She departed with a record of 172-80, six NCAA appearances, and four Atlantic 10 titles.

2008: Assistant Coach for Team USA at Beijing Olympics

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

2008: Head Coach at South Carolina

In 2008, Dawn Staley became the head coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team.

2008: End of Temple Owls Coaching Tenure

In 2008, Dawn Staley concluded her tenure as the head coach of the Temple Owls women's basketball team, having led them to multiple NCAA tournaments and conference titles.

2014: Head Coach U17 Team

In 2014, Dawn Staley served as head coach to the U17 Team and won a gold medal at the U18 Americas Championship.

2014: First Final Four Appearance

In 2014-15 season, Dawn Staley led the South Carolina Gamecocks to the program's first number 1 ranking and Final Four appearance.

2015: Head Coach U19 Team and National Coach of the Year

In 2015, Dawn Staley served as head coach to the U19 Team and won a gold medal at the U19 FIBA World Championship. As a result, the USA basketball organization awarded her the national coach of the year award, sharing it with Sean Miller.

2016: Assistant Coach for Team USA at Rio Olympics

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

2016: SEC Champions

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.

March 10, 2017: Named Head Coach of USA National Women's Team

On March 10, 2017, Dawn Staley was officially named the head coach of the USA national women's team, marking a significant step in her coaching career.

2017: National Championship Win

In 2017, Dawn Staley coached the South Carolina Gamecocks to their first national title, defeating Mississippi State in the championship game. She became the second African American to lead a women's basketball team to a national championship.

2018: Gold Medal at World Cup in Spain

In 2018, Dawn Staley coached Team USA to a gold medal in the World Cup held in Spain.

2019: Gold Medal at FIBA AmeriCup

In 2019, Dawn Staley coached Team USA to a gold medal in the FIBA AmeriCup.

2020: Gold Medal at Summer Olympics

At the 2020 Summer Olympics, Dawn Staley secured her first gold medal as the Head coach of Team USA, achieving a perfect 6-0 record and extending her overall record to 45-0.

2020: National Coach of the Year Awards

In 2020, Dawn Staley led the Gamecocks to a 32-1 season, winning the SEC regular season and tournament championship, and finished #1 in both major polls. Staley swept the national coach of the year awards, becoming the first person to win the Naismith award as a player and as a coach.

October 15, 2021: Contract Extension with South Carolina

On October 15, 2021, Dawn 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.

2021: Gold Medal at FIBA AmeriCup

In 2021, Dawn Staley again coached Team USA to a gold medal in the FIBA AmeriCup, continuing her streak of international success.

2021: Olympic Gold Medal as Head Coach

In 2021, Dawn Staley served as the head coach of the United States women's national basketball team, leading them to win an Olympic gold medal.

January 2022: Hosting Netlife Podcast

In January 2022, Dawn Staley began hosting a podcast called Netlife, which was produced by Just Women's Sports.

2022: Gamecocks Win National Championship

In 2022, Dawn Staley's Gamecocks, ranked #1 in both polls for the entire season, defeated 14 ranked teams and won the NCAA tournament, securing their second national championship by defeating UConn. Staley became the first coach to defeat Geno Auriemma, Tara VanDerveer, and Kim Mulkey in the same season. She also received the Naismith Award and coached the National Player of the Year, Aliyah Boston.

February 22, 2024: Staley Wins 600th Game

On February 22, 2024, Dawn Staley achieved her 600th career win in 786 games, with 534 of those wins at South Carolina, marking a significant milestone in her coaching career.

2024: Perfect Season and National Championship

In 2024, Dawn Staley coached South Carolina to a perfect season and another NCAA women's basketball national championship.

2024: Gamecocks Achieve Perfect Season and Third National Title

In 2024, Dawn Staley led her team to a perfect 38–0 season, securing their third national title. Staley also received her fourth Naismith Coach of the Year Award in 2024.