Staley on Naismith Coach of the Year Late Season List
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina women’s basketball head coach Dawn Staley earned a spot on the Werner Ladder Naismith Coach of the Year Late Season 2020 Watch List, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced Wednesday. It is the fourth season in which she is being considered for the award with the chance to become the first person to add the Naismith Coach of the Year award to a Naismith Player of the Year trophy.
Staley’s Gamecocks are ranked No. 1 in the country, holding the spot for the last six weeks in the AP Poll and two weeks in the WBCA/USA Today Coaches’ Poll. South Carolina is 25-1 on the season facing one of the toughest schedules in the nation. Entering the season with a roster that included two seniors, a junior, two sophomores and five freshmen, Staley did not shy away from challenging her squad and then elevating them to the challenge. The Gamecocks are 9-1 against nationally ranked opponents, leading the nation in wins against ranked teams. With four games remaining, South Carolina is atop the SEC regular-season standings.
The Atlanta Tipoff Club will narrow the list to 10 semifinalists on March 4, and the finalists will be revealed on March 19. The winner of the 2020 Werner Ladder Naismith Women’s Coach of the Year will be announced on April 4.
No. 1/1 South Carolina is back in action tonight when the Gamecocks host LSU to close out a four-game homestand with tipoff at 7 p.m.
2020 Werner Ladder Naismith Coach of the Year Late Season Watch List
Staley’s Gamecocks are ranked No. 1 in the country, holding the spot for the last six weeks in the AP Poll and two weeks in the WBCA/USA Today Coaches’ Poll. South Carolina is 25-1 on the season facing one of the toughest schedules in the nation. Entering the season with a roster that included two seniors, a junior, two sophomores and five freshmen, Staley did not shy away from challenging her squad and then elevating them to the challenge. The Gamecocks are 9-1 against nationally ranked opponents, leading the nation in wins against ranked teams. With four games remaining, South Carolina is atop the SEC regular-season standings.
The Atlanta Tipoff Club will narrow the list to 10 semifinalists on March 4, and the finalists will be revealed on March 19. The winner of the 2020 Werner Ladder Naismith Women’s Coach of the Year will be announced on April 4.
No. 1/1 South Carolina is back in action tonight when the Gamecocks host LSU to close out a four-game homestand with tipoff at 7 p.m.
2020 Werner Ladder Naismith Coach of the Year Late Season Watch List
Geno Auriemma, UConn
Adia Barnes, Arizona
Lisa Bluder, Iowa
Doug Bruno, DePaul
Cori Close, UCLA
Lisa Fortier, Gonzaga
Kelly Graves, Oregon
Joe McKeown, Northwestern
Wes Moore, NC State
Kim Mulkey, Baylor
Dawn Plitzuweit, South Dakota
Scott Rueck, Oregon State
Dawn Staley, South Carolina
Tara Vanderveer, Stanford
Jeff Walz, Louisville
