As I make this post I am reminded a lot that before Dawn Staley accepted the USC womens basketball job there were a lot of people who told her not to take the job. They all told her that you could not win at USC. But thank goodness for Dawns mother who encourgaged her to take the South Carolina job. Alabama earlier had tried to hire Coach Staley but from what I understand her mother was against her taking the Alabama job. So when South Carolina had an opening she contacted Eric Hyman with her interest in the job. So to Hymans credit he listened and he interviewed her. She told Hyman that she could turn the program around in 2-3 years. Hyman then told her that it would take longer. Later on Dawn admitted that Hyman was correct with his evaluation of the program at that time. Dawn finally convinced Hyman and the board of trustees that she was the one who could turn it around and make it relevant program. So when she initially hired at $600,000 a lot of SEC schools took notice. I remember reading an article in the Lexington Herald out of Kentucky that South Carolina had taken womens basketball seriously when they agreed to pay her $600,000.00. Dawn was hired yes the first couple of years she experienced growing pains as one of her top recruits Kelsey Bone left USC after one year saying that South Carolina would never win a national championship in womens basketball. Kelsey Bone transferred to Texas A&M where they did a national championship. Finally Dawn got the best player in the state of South Carolina to commit along with a highly recruited player from Myrtle Beach. Dawn was finally getting the top line players to compete in the SEC and then when Dawn convinced Aja Wilson to come to USC that truly was the start to having an elite womens basketball team. Of course as Paul Harvey would say you know the rest of the story. Then Dawn landed the top recruiting classes in the country when she got Aliyah Boston, Zia Cook, Bre Beal. Of course you know the story. But as a side story Ohio State tried to hire Dawn Staley, but again Dawn's mother, Ray Tanner and Harris Pastides made sure that Dawn Staley would remain at South Carolina. Of course Dawn has landed the number 2 recruiting class in the country for next year. Will they continue their streak of excellence. Only time will tell, but USC has a bench of McDonald's All Americans sitting on the bench. So hopefully they can continue their high standards of excellence that Eric Hyman visioned when he hired Dawn Staley. From talking with friends associated with womens basketball USC has had numerous schools contact USC about how they continued to lead the country in attendance and the things they have done. I know Dawn and her staff have met with several AD's and coaches to discuss things like marketing, home court atmosphere and different other things to help womens basketball grow. But schools have to be willing to put the financial resources into the womens programs. I do know that is one issue that a lot of schools have that they cannot competer against SEC schools with the financial resources. Only time will tell. If you want to be good you have to spend money on coaches and other parts of the program.
USC Womens basketball before and After with Coach Staley
- Thread starter Spurman54
- Start date
From what I’ve read, Dawn’s mother is originally from SC which may explain her attraction.
There are a lot of factors (marketing, for example) that go into filling the seats, but one common denominator holds true to the test of time ... WIN!!!
Dawn is an elite WBB coach, but it's easy to overlook her accomplishments as a player before becoming a coach.
She is the total package and her years in the WNBA give her credibility with recruits few coaches can compete with.
As player:
She is the total package and her years in the WNBA give her credibility with recruits few coaches can compete with.
As player:
- 3 Olympic Gold Medals
- 6× WNBA All-Star (2001–2006)
- WNBA 10th Anniversary Team (2006)
- WNBA 15th Anniversary Team (2011)
- 2× ABL All-Star (1997, 1998)
- 2× Honda Sports Award (1991, 1992)
- 2× Naismith College Player of the Year (1991, 1992)
- 2× WBCA Player of the Year (1991, 1992)
- 2× USBWA Player of the Year (1991, 1992)
- 2× ACC Player of the Year (1991, 1992)
We're lucky to have her and I think she feels fortunate to have us as well. We're a rare program that's committed to excellence in WBB and I am going to enjoy the ride while it's here. I'm proud of how our girls represent my alma mater and I also think it's pretty nice to have our fight song playing on ATT commercials now.
Although she is considered a pariah, Pam Parsons proved it could be done. Her behavior set the program back and it took someone of Dawn Staley’s credentials and commitment to put USC women’s basketball back to national prominence. Win indeed is the secret. UGA did some of the same things when Andy Landers women filled Stegman Collesium with fans years ago often surpassing the mens team. Great to see it happen here at U S C.
Thanks for the recap.
Two things, first Paragraphs can be your friends if you let them.
Second, Kelsey Bone never said, intimated or even hinted that she left because she couldn’t win a national championship here. Everything she ever said (and she said very little)was about being homesick and about how demanding DS was as a coach. She never denigrated the program like that.
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Dawn did bring in the 2019 #1 class that featured Boston, Beal, Cooke, Amihere, and Thompson. She also brought in the 2021 #1 class that featured Johnson, Hall, and Feagin, to go along with that 2023 #2 class, along with Cardoso, Watkins, and Cooper. Those players will have up to two (2) more seasons to gel as a championship team (if Cardoso chooses to), so we'll still have something to say on the national WCBB stage beginning next season.....
When Kaela Davis decided to transfer from Georgia Tech Kelsey Bone suggested USC and Dawn. Kelsey is Kaela's Godmother.
Umm Kelsey is 31, Kaela is 28. I doubt a 3 or 4 year old was given the honor/responsibility of being a Godmother. Could you have possibly meant Kelsey’s mother is Kaela’s Godmother and she not Kelsey made the statement? Or were you possibly referring to Candace Parker who is Kaela Davis’ Godsister?
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Ray does get some credit. After only 9 months as AD…..
After the 12-13 season Dawn was very publicly courted by Ohio State. On a Friday it was leaked/announced She had an all day interview set up for Monday. Ohio State was sending down the school’s jet to bring her to Columbus.
Ray went to work and had a new deal in place by Sunday afternoon. The jet was canceled. If you remember that far back, Ray took a lot of criticism for that deal. You know the mantra; Overpaid, it’s woman’s basketball, she’s only been to the NCAA Tournament twice….
I certainly wouldn't want to deprive him of credit, nor anyone else who has had a hand in keeping her here. But I accord greater weight to getting her here to start with.
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Being Lesbian of course! Sleeping with one of your players and making advances on other players, I doubt it.
Homosexuality is one thing, but having sexual relations with one of your players (whether hetero or homo) is another.
Having sex with one of your players would not go unnoticed.
Then her mom, a SC native, probably deserves much of the credit. IIRC Dawn was being highly recruited by UVA and other schools (Bama?) at that time.
Guess my memory is flawed but I remember reading something about Kelsey suggesting USC to Davis. Sorry.
No need to apologize, I can imagine Kelsey’s mom saying something, just trying to sort it out.
Any chance you know how to get in touch w Dawn’s Mom, so I can give her a big *** hug?? Lol
I thought Orangeburg area, but North is in Orangeburg County.
Eartha Kitt was originally from North.
Bettye Ackerman, who played Dr. Maggie Graham on the ABC medical drama Ben Casey from 1961-1966 grew up in Williston.
You are right I do remember that now through the fog of the years. I think Mel Stottlemyer was from there too.