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South Carolina women's basketball: Dawn Staley is named Naismith Coach of the Year

On3 imageby:Chris Wellbaum•04/03/24•

ChrisWellbaum

South Carolina HC Dawn Staley
Jim Dedmon | USA TODAY Sports

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Dawn Staley was named the 2024 Werner Ladder Naismith Women’s College Coach of the Year at a ceremony in Cleveland on Wednesday.

Staley won the award for the third straight season and fourth in the last five. Staley also won the Jersey Mike’s Naismith College Player of the Year in 1991 and 1992. She is the only person to win both awards.

“I’m really not focused on these awards, I only want one thing, and it starts on Friday,” Staley said. “We’ve exceeded any expectations internally, externally. To be undefeated, to win awards like this, so unexpected.”

Staley beat out finalists Lisa Bluder (Iowa), Lindsey Gottlieb (Southern Cal), and Tara VanDerveer (Stanford).

Staley was presented with the award during a ceremony at the Key Bank Club at Cleveland Browns Stadium. During the ceremony, the Jersey Mike’s Naismith Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year awards were also handed out.

Kamilla Cardoso was a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year but lost out to Cameron Brink. 

The other finalists for Defensive Player of the Year were Celeste Taylor (Ohio State) and Hannah Hidalgo (Notre Dame). Aliyah Boston won Defensive Player of the Year the past two seasons.

Just prior to the ceremony, Kamilla Cardoso was named WBCA Defensive Player of the Year.

Caitlin Clark was named Player of the Year. She beat out Juju Watkins, Paige Bueckers, and Cameron Brink.

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In 2020, Staley won the award for the first time after leading South Carolina to a 32-1 record and a consensus number-one ranking before the COVID pandemic canceled the NCAA Tournament. 

She won the award again in 2022 after South Carolina went 35-2 and won its second national championship. Last year, South Carolina went undefeated until the Final Four, finishing 36-1 and earning coach of the year honors again. 

Staley now trails only Geno Auriemma (eight) and Pat Summitt (five) for the most Coach of the Year awards.

“It means I’m getting up there,” Staley said.

South Carolina men’s basketball coach Lamont Paris is nominated for the Naismith men’s College Coach of the Year. That award will be announced on April 7.

This season, Staley has also been named SEC Coach of the Year and National Coach of the Year by ESPN, The Athletic, The Sporting News, and USBWA.

The AP and WBCA Coach of the Year winners will be announced on Thursday, April 4.

Previously, Staley has won at least 15 different Coach of the Year honors.

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