Dawn Staley And Temple Agree On Six-Year Contract Extension

March 29, 2007

PHILADELPHIA- Temple University has reached an agreement with its women's head basketball coach Dawn Staley on a six-year contract extension, announced Director of Athletics Bill Bradshaw. Staley, who has guided the Owls to five NCAA Tournaments, owns a 151-67 record in her seven seasons at the helm of the program.

"We are pleased to announce that Dawn Staley will continue to serve as the head coach of the Temple University women's basketball program," said Temple University President Ann Weaver Hart. "Dawn has made Temple one of the top women's basketball programs in the nation, and she has done it the right way."

"Dawn Staley has excelled in every aspect of her life -- as a student-athlete, as a professional player, as an Olympian and here at Temple as a head coach," said Bradshaw. "She has inspired young women throughout her life, and given back to the community through the Dawn Staley Foundation. She is a Philadelphia icon and provides Temple women's basketball with an image commensurate with the University's mission of access to excellence."

A two-time Atlantic 10 Conference Coach of the Year (2004, 2005), Staley has guided the Owls to four Conference championships (2002, 2004, 2005, 2006) over the past seven seasons. Her best season came in 2004-05 when she led Temple to a 28-4 overall mark, and a perfect 16-0 record in A-10 play. That Temple team, which also set a school record with a nation's best 25-game win streak, became the first A-10 school to record an undefeated record in conference play and also win the A-10 Tournament.

Staley also made history at Temple when her 2004-05 team became the first-ever Owl women's basketball squad to garner a national ranking. Temple proved that was no fluke by remaining in the national polls for 26 consecutive weeks.

At Temple, Staley has recruited and coached two Conference Players of the Year in Candice Dupree (2005, 2006) and Kamesha Hairston (2007). Dupree, a 2006 First Round WNBA Draft pick, also earned All-America honors as a senior.

In Philadelphia, Staley's teams have come to dominate city-series play.  A four-time Philadelphia Big 5 Coach of the Year, Staley has guided Temple to four Big 5 titles and a current streak of 14 consecutive city-series wins. She also has twice earned Philadelphia's prestigious Wanamaker Award, presented annually to the "athlete, team or organization that has done the most to reflect credit upon Philadelphia and to the team or sport in which they excel."

One of the top players in collegiate and professional women's basketball history, Staley earned consecutive National Player of the Year awards at the University of Virginia ('92), and, the five-time WNBA All-Star was selected league's All-Decade Team. A three-time Olympic gold medalist for Team USA, Staley carried the American Flag at the Opening Ceremony of the 2004 Summer Games in Athens.

Staley has also represented the United States internationally as a coach, serving as an assistant coach with Team USA during the 2006 World Championship in Sao Paulo, Brazil. She also has been selected as an assistant coach for the 2008 USA Women's Olympic basketball team.

A leader off the court, the WNBA has honored her by presenting the Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award to the player who best exemplifies the characteristics of a leader in the community in which she works or lives.

She has received many honors for her community service, and most recently was named as the 2007 female recipient of the Henry P. Iba Citizenship Award. Given by the Rotary Club of Tulsa, the award is given each year to a male and female athlete who has excelled in both their sport and in their service to others. Past award winners include Peyton Manning, Drew Bledsoe, Jackie Joyner Kersee, Karl Malone and Rebecca Lobo.

A native of Philadelphia, Staley is a 1988 graduate of Murrell Dobbins High School.

Temple University Athletics

Dawn Staley And Temple Agree On Six-Year Contract Extension

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