The one goal Dawn Staley says she still hasn't met
Recently, South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley made an appearance on ESPN’s Marty and McGee. Sitting down to talk with the hosts Marty Smith and Ryan McGee, Staley spoke about A’ja Wilson’s jersey retirement over the weekend and the local legend’s impact on USC and the sport of basketball.
During their conversation, the ESPN duo (rightfully) showered Coach Staley with praise for her accomplishments. With a Hall of Fame career as a player and three national titles as a coach, it’s easy to assume that there is nothing left for Staley to prove. However, she revealed to Smith and McGee that there is still something she feels is left unfulfilled in her career.
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Said Coach Staley, “There isn’t anything in my career that I want…maybe there’s one thing…I do want to be in the Naismith Hall of Fame as a coach.”
Smith and McGee laughed at the notion, not because it was an unrealistic goal but because it is unrealistic to think any other outcome could be possible. “Book it,” said Smith.
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Staley’s career achievements are well-known. After a successful run at Temple in her hometown of Philadelphia, she took over at South Carolina. Staley rebuilt the Gamecocks and then took the program to new heights. She has led USC to eight SEC regular season championships, eight SEC Tournament titles, and three NCAA Tournament National Championships. Her Gamecocks earned the nation’s No. 1 ranking following the Covid-shortened 2019-2020 season, as well, and are a favorite to win another set of titles this season.
The subject of Staley’s induction as a coach is a matter of “when,” not a matter of “if.”
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Induction as a coach is not only for coaches who have retired, though. On the men’s side, the Hall has welcomed San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, Michigan State coach Mark Dantoni, Arkansas coach John Calipari, St. John’s coach Rick Pitino, and Kansas coach Bill Self. (Calipari was at Kentucky at the time, and Pitino was at Louisville for his induction.) In the women’s game, UConn women’s coach Geno Auriemma and LSU women’s coach Kim Mulkey earned enshrinement. (Mulkey was at Baylor for her enshrinement.) However, if a coach is active, he/she must have coached 25 full seasons. Because she is in year 25, Staley will be eligible as soon as next year.
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame has never inducted a woman twice. John Wooden, Lenny Wilkens, Bill Sharman, Tom Heinsohn, and Bill Russell all earned induction as both a player and as a coach. John McClendon is in twice, once as a coach and once as a contributor. Several individuals have been inducted and are in again as part of a team.
