South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley has made a notable addition to her coaching staff — one that brings the program’s history full circle. Staley has rehired her predecessor, Susan Walvius, who previously led the Gamecocks for 11 seasons before Staley took over. Walvius is now officially back with the program in a new, business-focused role.
The move was publicly discussed on Wednesday after South Carolina’s victory over Duke at the Players Era Championship in Las Vegas. When asked by GamecockCentral’s Chris Wellbaum about bringing Walvius back into the fold, Staley reflected on what the reunion means.
“I think it’s a full circle moment for Susan,” Staley said. She highlighted Walvius’ mentorship initiatives during her first tenure at USC and expressed her appreciation for Walvius’ willingness to return and reinvest in the program.
With over a decade having passed since Walvius last coached the Gamecocks — her final season was 2008–09 — Staley believes the timing could not be better. But her value extends well beyond basketball.
After stepping away from coaching, Walvius teamed up with former assistant Michelle Marciniak to found SHEEX, a performance bedding and sleepwear company inspired by athletic-material design. The pair grew SHEEX into a multimillion-dollar brand. That entrepreneurial success is exactly why Staley views Walvius as a vital addition in the Name, Image and Likeness era.
“Susan’s a successful businesswoman who created a corporation from the ground up that’s still thriving in this space,” Staley said. “In this climate, you have to be business-minded. You have to think a little bit outside the box and be innovative and create positions that will help in the NIL space.”
Walvius will now oversee all NIL strategy for South Carolina women’s basketball — including fundraising, program development, and helping athletes build financial knowledge. Staley emphasized that Walvius was “the best person for the job” when it comes to offering “direction” and “financial literacy” to USC players navigating the modern landscape of college athletics.
During her original run at South Carolina, Walvius posted a 165–160 record, made two NCAA Tournament appearances, earned three NIT berths, and set what was then a program record for wins in a season (25 in 2001–02). Only Staley herself has surpassed that milestone.
Now, the two most successful coaches in the program’s NCAA history will work side-by-side as the Gamecocks continue the pursuit of a fourth national championship.
Following their 1–1 showing in Las Vegas — highlighted by a win over Duke and a narrow last-second loss to Texas — the Gamecocks have a short break before heading on the road. Their next matchup is a high-profile ACC/SEC Challenge game at Louisville, scheduled for Thursday at 7:00 p.m. The contest will air on ESPN and stream live through the ESPN app.
