VIDEO: Dawn Staley named Honorary Life Member of My Carolina
Posted on: October 16, 2014; Updated on: October 16, 2014
By John Brunelli, brunelli@mailbox.sc.edu, (803) 777-3697
Olympic gold medalist Dawn Staley graduated from the University of Virginia, but she considers herself a Gamecock.
Staley will soon begin her seventh season as the head women’s basketball coach for the Gamecocks. Under her leadership, the team has improved its winning percentage each year. Last season, the program won the SEC tournament for the first time and went to the NCAA tournament for the third consecutive year. Her success earned her the title of SEC Coach of the Year in 2014.
The My Carolina Alumni Association named Staley an Honorary Life Member for the success on and off the basketball court. Shortly after arriving at Carolina, Staley formed a not for profit organization, Innersole that provides new sneakers to homeless children and other children in need.
“I think the award is truly special because anytime you don’t attend a university and they think you contribute in a way that a family member has—it’s special,” says Staley.
Coach Staley has long advocated to her players the importance of Carolina’s alumni.
“I always tell them that they need to support the alumni association because of what it is comprised of: different people from all different professions, helping people, helping to spread the great news of this university and what we’re all about,” says Staley.
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