Dawn Staley Carves Path More Appealing Than Leading Men’s Program

DALLAS – South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley has built a strong resume during her 15 seasons.

• Two national titles, with a chance to go back-to-back at this weekend’s Final Four.
• The first Black coach to win two national titles.
• Seven regular season SEC titles.
• Seven SEC Tournament titles.
• AP Coach of the Year

Why would she leave the empire she has constructed with the Gamecocks?

Staley earns $2.7 million annually — the second-highest in the women’s game. Temple fired its head coach, alum Aaron McKie, who made just over $1.1 million.

With her success, Staley has become one of the most marketable figures in women’s college basketball with her endorsement deals with Oofos, the footwear company, and sharing commercial space with Duke’s legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski on Aflac TV spots.

Naturally, her credentials and celebrity would attract schools during the coaching hiring season. 

Staley appeared to be a logical candidate for the Temple men’s job, given her accolades and ties to the university, 

On Thursday, Staley shot down any suggestions that she was interested in the job at the Philadelphia school.

“I don’t want to coach in the men’s game,” she told reporters on Thursday. Then she grinned, adding, “it’s too cold up there.” (Staley would know — she grew up in Philadelphia and spent several years as Temple’s head women’s coach.)

But clearly, she has no interest in leaving the ever-growing world of women’s basketball.