Dawn Staley led Virginia women’s basketball to its first and only national championship game appearance in 1991. Watch her Final Four and national title game highlights from 1990-93 as a player.

Out of all her abilities, the thing that impressed us the most is at 5′ 6″ how she would challenge and defeat much bigger girls down in the paint.

We’re not just talking about on fast breaks but actually facing them up or with them at her back. We also liked the fact that we wore the same number. Quickness, finesse, footwork, speed agility, she had them all. Staley was TOUGH when she played!

Dawn Staley, Lamont Paris Join Elite Company In SEC History Books

South Carolina’s head men’s and women’s basketball coaches, Dawn Staley and Lamont Paris, have joined a small group in the SEC history books.

South Carolina’s head men’s and women’s basketball coaches, Dawn Staley and Lamont Paris, have joined a small group in the SEC history books.

In a remarkable testament to coaching excellence in basketball, the University of South Carolina is situated in the spotlight as Dawn Staley and Lamont Paris have been crowned SEC Coach of the Year for women’s and men’s basketball, respectively.

This dual recognition marks only the third occasion in SEC history where both accolades were awarded to coaches from the same institution in the same season, underscoring a historic moment for the Gamecocks.

Dawn Staley continues solidifying her legacy as a premier coach in women’s college basketball. Under her leadership, the Gamecocks have dominated the SEC and been unstoppable on a national level.

Staley’s team is currently undefeated, sweeping the SEC’s regular season and Tournament championship races, and is expected to be the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament. Her ability to consistently bring out the best in her players has become the hallmark of her tenure at South Carolina.

Lamont Paris has engineered a remarkable turnaround on the men’s side, leading the team to its most successful regular season in program history.

In just two seasons, Paris has orchestrated a complete 180, galvanizing a squad that not long ago languished in the lower echelons of the conference standings.

This season, they have shattered expectations and are widely expected to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the program’s Final Four run in 2017.

As both teams gear up for their respective postseasons, the Gamecock faithful can revel in the shared success of their respected coaches, who have proven that leadership, dedication, and passion are the cornerstones of championship-caliber teams.