Dawn Staley has cemented her legacy as one of the greatest minds in women’s college basketball, having turned the South Carolina Gamecocks into a perennial powerhouse since her arrival in 2008.
Fresh off another remarkable season, Staley guided the Gamecocks through a dominant NCAA Tournament run, notching wins over Tennessee Tech, Indiana, Maryland, Duke, and Texas. Although they fell short in the national title game against the UConn Huskies, the journey further solidified South Carolina’s elite status under her leadership.
As Staley gears up for yet another championship pursuit, she also took time to celebrate a personal milestone — her 55th birthday. On the special occasion, associate head coach Lisa Boyer shared a heartfelt tribute on social media:
“It’s time to wish our best girl @dawnstaley a VERY VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! Many know her as ‘Coach’ but she is an incredible human being. ONE OF ONE!!! Love me some Dawnnie:):) Enjoy your day my friend.”
Lisa Boyer, who has worked alongside Staley since the beginning of her South Carolina tenure, has played a key role in the Gamecocks’ rise. Starting as an assistant in 2008, she was promoted to associate head coach in 2010, where she has remained ever since.
Before joining Staley, Boyer also made coaching stops at Virginia Tech, Davidson, Miami, East Carolina, and more.
Under Staley’s leadership, South Carolina has captured:
- 3 National Championships
- 7 Final Four appearances
- 9 SEC Regular Season Titles
- 9 SEC Tournament Titles
With her legacy already etched in college basketball history, Dawn Staley continues to inspire — both on and off the court.
