Dawn Staley Named to Prestigious Naismith Coach of the Year Late Season Watch List
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Dawn Staley continues to etch her name in the record books, as she has been named one of 15 finalists for the 2025 Werner Ladder Naismith Women’s College Coach of the Year Late Season Watch List, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced Wednesday. Staley, already the only four-time winner in the award’s history—across both men’s and women’s basketball—has dominated the honor in recent years, claiming the title for the last three consecutive seasons.
Staley’s Historic Streaks Continue This season, Staley has once again cemented her legacy, becoming only the second coach in NCAA history to guide her team to multiple 40-game winning streaks. The Gamecocks opened their 2024-25 campaign with five straight victories, extending their program-record win streak to 43 games. South Carolina also boasts an SEC-best 71-game home winning streak, ranking third in NCAA history, and an SEC-record 57-game conference regular-season win streak, tied for sixth all-time in NCAA history.
Dominating the Nation’s Toughest Schedule Currently sitting atop the SEC standings with an 11-1 conference record, No. 6 South Carolina (23-3 overall) has been battle-tested all season. The Gamecocks have faced a nation-leading 12 ranked opponents, securing an NCAA-best nine wins in those matchups. Despite the grueling schedule, South Carolina ranks among the nation’s best in key statistical categories:
- Scoring: 15th (80.2 ppg)
- Field Goal Percentage Defense: 6th (.349)
- Rebounding Average: 14th (42.4 rpg)
- Turnovers Per Game: 14th (12.2)
- Assist-to-Turnover Ratio: 12th (1.4)
- Blocks Per Game: 6th (5.7)
- Bench Scoring: 1st (41.6 ppg)
With such dominant numbers, it’s no surprise that Staley remains a frontrunner for yet another Naismith Coach of the Year title.
What’s Next for the Gamecocks? South Carolina is set to close out its three-game homestand at Colonial Life Arena on Thursday when they take on Arkansas at 7 p.m. The Gamecocks will look to maintain their stronghold on the SEC and continue their push toward postseason success.
Stay locked into GamecocksOnline.com and follow the team’s official social media accounts (@GamecockWBB) for the latest updates on South Carolina women’s basketball.
Naismith Coach of the Year Late Season Watch List
- Geno Auriemma, UConn
- Kenny Brooks, Kentucky
- Kim Caldwell, Tennessee
- Mark Campbell, TCU
- Cori Close, UCLA
- Nell Fortner, Georgia Tech
- Lindsay Gottlieb, Southern Cal
- Niele Ivey, Notre Dame
- Kevin McGuff, Ohio State
- Jeff Mittie, Kansas State
- Wes Moore, NC State
- Kim Mulkey, LSU
- Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt
- Vic Schaefer, Texas
- Dawn Staley, South Carolina
With Staley leading the charge, South Carolina remains a dominant force in college basketball. Will she claim her fifth Naismith title? Stay tuned!
