South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley has long been known not only for building championship-caliber teams on the court but also for shaping her players’ lives off it. In a January 2023 appearance on the What Drives Winning YouTube podcast, Staley opened up about her coaching philosophy, balancing basketball development with personal growth.
Coming off a 2022 national title appearance, Staley was asked about how off-court choices can impact a player’s long-term success. She didn’t hesitate to share her perspective, offering a candid example of a one-on-one conversation she had with one of her players.
“She’s made huge strides, but there are things that seep into your strides that if you got rid of those things, you would be a heck of a player,” Staley explained. “I told her she has too many distractions off the floor. I told her, ‘If your friends aren’t pushing you to go get extra workouts in, they’re not for you. And if your friends aren’t going to the WNBA or trying to be successful or see themselves being successful in the next three to four years, y’all are not equally yoked.’”
Staley’s Message: Focus on Yourself First
Later in the interview, Staley emphasized a message she often delivers to her team — the importance of prioritizing themselves above outside influences. She explained that the advice might not resonate immediately but becomes invaluable over time.
“I just told her to choose yourself, like choose you. Your success over everybody else’s success,” Staley said. “And I say you’re young, you don’t really get it right now. But I’m going to keep talking to you about it. So one day it will click for you, and you’ll have that ‘aha’ moment. And then, it’s all downhill from there. You’ll understand and you won’t allow anything else to be a distraction in your career path.”
The Present Context
Fast forward to the 2024–25 season, Staley once again had her Gamecocks competing at the highest level. South Carolina went 35-4 overall (15-1 SEC) and made it all the way to the 2025 NCAA championship game, chasing back-to-back national titles for the first time in program history. Their run ultimately ended in a tough loss to UConn, falling 82-59.
At 55, Staley’s influence continues to go far beyond X’s and O’s. Whether her team wins or loses, her words reveal the deeper lessons she wants her players to carry — ones about discipline, focus, and choosing the right path both on and off the hardwood.
