Staley Named USA Basketball co-Coach of the Year

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina women’s basketball head coach Dawn Staley was named USA Basketball National co-Coach of the Year, along with Gregg Popovich, in recognition of their leadership of gold-medal winning USA Basketball teams in 2021. This marks the third time Staley has been honored with the title as she shared the award in 2015 and earned it outright in 2018.
 
In addition to leading the U.S. to its record-tying seventh-straight Olympic gold medal, Staley also held the reins of the 2021 FIBA AmeriCup gold-medal winning team. In that tournament, she guided a team of college players against seasoned veteran opponents to a 6-0 record en route to gold, which earned the U.S. women their spot in the 2022 FIBA World Cup Qualifying Tournaments.
 
“It’s an honor to be recognized by USA Basketball and even more so to share this award with Gregg Popovich,” Staley said. “I got the best of both worlds this year with the AmeriCup team of college players and the Olympic team, who both came in with a team-first mentality that was fun to coach and help them to gold medals.
 
“Leading an Olympic team on the cusp of history was a responsibility I took to heart, and I appreciate the players who embraced the way we wanted to play and did what they had to in order to continue that Olympic streak.”
 
Staley’s top-ranked Gamecocks are back in action on Wed., Dec. 15, at No. 15 Duke. Action at Cameron Indoor Stadium is set for 7 p.m. with the game airing on ACC Network.
 
Continue to check GamecocksOnline.com and the team’s social media accounts (@GamecockWBB) for the most up-to-date information on the women’s basketball season.