South Carolina coach Dawn Staley takes over the reins as Olympic coach from UConn's Geno Auriemma and once played for the red, white and blue for Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer, all coaching at this week's Final Four. See story on
Staley takes over reins as Olympic coach from Auriemma and once played for the red, white and blue of VanDerveer
Dallas — There's nothing non-competitive about South Carolina coach Dawn Staley.
Staley sat at a Final Four press conference for her team this week and lamented the fact that she should have gotten Stanford's Angela Taylor to foul her during the 1992 national semifinals when Staley played for Virginia, still running it through her mind.
“I think as many wins that I've been a part of, it's the losses that really sting … '90, '91 and '92 were all opportunities to win a national championship, but the last one was probably the hardest one,” Staley said.
Staley attended this year's Final Four for the first time as the incoming U.S. Olympic women's basketball coach, a mantle she was given in March. She will coach the U.S. team at the 2018 FIBA World Cup of Basketball in Spain, then for the 2019 Olympic qualifiers and the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
At this Final Four, Staley is in good company, too.
She takes over the role as Olympic coach from UConn's Geno Auriemma, a two-time gold medalist, whose team also played in Friday's national semifinals at the American Airlines Center. And Staley, a three-time gold medalist as a player, competed in the 1996 Olympics under Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer.
Staley's South Carolina defeated VanDerveer's Stanford team 6253 in the semifinals prior to UConn's matchup with Mississippi State.
“You really couldn't orchestrate something like that,” Auriemma said. “It kind of just has to happen. It's unique. You don't see that generally anywhere, much less in a Final Four.”
“I think it just points to the fact that you have people that stick with things, really love the game of basketball, are passionate about it,” VanDerveer said of the trio of coaches having worn the red, white and blue. “Dawn has gone from being a passionate player to a passionate teacher and coach.”
VanDerveer reemphasized Staley's competitive nature.
“If she tells you she beat me in chess, she's a liar,” VanDerveer said with a laugh. “We just compete. I love Dawn. I'm so proud of her. Not surprised at all.
“... You know, sometimes as a player, you're going to tell 'em things they don't want to hear, so, I mean, Dawn could probably tell you a couple stories of things that maybe she didn't want to hear from me. But I always have respected Dawn's competitiveness, her work ethic, her absolute passion for the game of basketball.”
Staley, in her ninth season at South Carolina, reached her second Final Four in three years in 2017. The Gamecocks, the top seed in the Stockton (Calif.) Regional, defeated No. 3 Florida State 71-64 in the regional final Monday night.
Staley now aspires to win a national championship, the way Auriemma and VanDerveer have, in addition to following in their Olympic footsteps.
“I'm so happy to be in that number (with Auriemma and VanDerveer),” Staley said. “We have all made sacrifices for the greater good of our sport. For us all to be here says we're doing things the right way. We've given so much to the game and the game, in turn, has been the greatest gift that keeps on giving.
“I want to be amongst greatness. This opportunity does that.”
Dawgs make their debut
Mississippi State started the season 20-0 before falling at then No. 5 South Carolina 64-61, Jan. 23, in a Southeastern Conference matchup. South Carolina also topped the Bulldogs 59-49 on March 5 in the SEC tournament final in Greenville, S.C.
Staley said she was not surprised to see conference-mate Mississippi State in the Final Four. It is the Bulldogs' first appearance in program history.
“They're very well-coached. They're experienced. Their team has been together for the last three or four years,” Staley said. “They're very calculating in what they want to do from an offensive standpoint. Defensively, they're pretty stingy.
“… When you have success in our league, when you transition to the NCAA tournament, it puts you in the position where you're ahead of the game.”
Ditto
The U.S. Basketball Writers Association named Auriemma its National Coach of the Year for the sixth time Friday afternoon, one day after he earned the same distinction from the Associated Press.
Washington senior Kelsey Plum, the NCAA's all-time leading scorer, won her second player of the year award in two days, as well, taking the USBWA's Ann Meyers Drysdale Award. Oregon's Sabrina Ionescu was named National Freshman of the Year.
In addition, Barb Kowal, a former women's basketball sports information contact for UConn and Texas, received the Mary Jo Haverbeck Award for media relations excellence. Appalachian State coach Angel Elderkin and ESPN broadcaster Holly Rowe shared the Pat Summitt Most Courageous Award.
Auriemma's wife Kathy accepted on his behalf. v.fulkerson@theday.com