Temple University Athletics
Staley Named New Women's Basketball Coach
4.12.00 | Women's Basketball
PHILADELPHIA - Dawn Staley, a Philadelphia native and a
standout basketball
player at the high school, college and professional levels, was
formally
introduced by Athletic Director Dave O'Brien at The Liacouras
Center as the
new women's basketball coach at Temple University in a media
conference
today (Wed., April 12).
"When we started this process, we were looking for an individual
who was a
proven winner, as either a coach or player and had the charisma
and fan
following to help us recruit nationally and build a strong fan
base,"
O'Brien said. "We were looking for a gem, and we found a bright
diamond
right in our own backyard. Having recently experienced a great
week with the
Women's Final Four and its rich Philadelphia women's
basketball tradition,
we are particularly pleased to turn our program over to a true
Philadelphia
women's basketball legend, Dawn Staley."
Staley, 29, succeeds Kristen Foley as the 21st head coach in
Temple women's
basketball history. She began her storied basketball career at
Dobbins Tech
High School (1986-88) in Philadelphia where she was named
USA Today's
National High School Player of the Year and led Dobbins to three
straight
Philadelphia Public League championships.
Staley was named a three-time Kodak All-American while
starring at the
University of Virginia (1989-92). She helped UVA to a 110-21
record and four
appearances in the NCAA Tournament. Three of those trips led
to Final Four
appearances in 1990, 1991 and 1992, and in 1991 the Cavaliers
were the
national runners-up. She holds the NCAA record for steals with
454 and was
named the National Player of the Year in 1991 and 1992. In
addition, she was
the ACC Conference Player of the Year in 1991 and 1992 and the
Rookie of the
Year in 1989.
From 1992 to 1994, Staley played with a number of professional
teams in
France, Italy, Brazil and Spain. She began her United States
professional
playing career when she joined the Richmond Rage of the ABL
in 1996-97 and
helped the team to the ABL finals. The Rage moved to
Philadelphia for the
1997-98 season and played at The Liacouras Center on
Temple's main campus.
She averaged 14.0 ppg., 7.2 apg., and 3.5 rpg. in her ABL career
and was a
two time ABL All-Star.
Staley switched leagues to the WNBA in 1999 and led the
Charlotte Sting
(1999-present) to a second place finish in the Eastern
Conference and to the
Eastern Conference finals. Overall, she ranked 24th in the WNBA
in scoring
(11.5 ppg.), second in assists (5.5 apg.) and second in free
throw shooting
(93.4 percent). She earned the 1999 WNBA Sportsmanship
award.
Staley is also a member of the USA National Team
(1989-present). Among her
many accomplishments, she helped the squad capture the 1999
U.S. Olympic Cup
gold medal, was a member of the 1998 gold medal winning USA
World
Championship team and was a member of the gold
medal-winning 1996 USA
Olympic team. Her 1994 team won the Goodwill Games gold
medal, and she was
named tournament MVP.
Staley heads the Dawn Staley Foundation in Philadelphia, which
is aimed at
giving inner-city kids positive input. The foundation sponsors
after-school
programs, a three-hour focus on academics and athletics at the
Hank Gathers
Recreation Center, as well as summer leagues and fund-raising
activities.
She was awarded the 1999 WNBA Entrepreneurial Spirit Award
for her work with
the Foundation.
