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Dawn Staley: Athlete, Entrepreneur/Philanthropist, Mentor

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Dawn Staley is a Super Hero Who Gives and Then Gives Back Some More

Dawn Staley was a high school basketball player of the year, a three time gold metal Olympian who was elected to carry the flag in the 2004 Parade of the Athletes, a Professional WNBA basketball player, a college coach famous for reviving flagging teams and an entrepreneur who has a foundation to help young girls from her old neighborhood. Oh, wait, did I mention that she is writing a series of four children's books?

And, as the saying goes, all that before most of us have gotten out of bed!

She is everything that I admire. An athlete, an entrepreneur, a philanthropist and a mentor for youth. I feel like there isn't much more to say, but well, there is.

She can be a mentor for us all.

Contents at a Glance

Traveling Back Through Dawn Staley's His...
Dawn Staley
The Dawn Staley Foundation
Dawn Staley's Remarkable Coaching Career
Dawn Staley Plays Pro Ball and Coaches C...
4 Olympics With 4 Gold Medal Teams

I decided to order this lens a little differently. One could take any moment of Dawn Staley's life and find something spectacular. She seems too extraordinary for the ordinary sequence of events. Thus I will start with the present, her Foundation and coaching career and move back in time.

Important!

Dawn Staley

"When you're faced with this type of situation, it's not going to be easy, ... but it's doable as long as there is time on the clock."

Her life is a perfect example of this quote, both on the court and off.

The Dawn Staley Foundation

I will talk about Dawn Staley's impressive basketball career, but first, and perhaps of most importance, is The Dawn Staley Foundation.

The Dawn Staley Foundation

"Olympic Gold Medalist and professional athlete Dawn M. Staley created the Dawn Staley Foundation in the fall of 1996. Staley, a Philadelphia native who grew up in north central Philadelphia, felt compelled to give something back to the community that enabled her to achieve success both on the basketball court and in life. The foundation's mission is to create a future of hope for at-risk youth by providing opportunities that help them realize their dreams and become productive and responsible citizens. The creation and support of educational and sports programs which challenge minds, build character, and help youth to develop to their fullest potential academically, socially and physically are the essence of the foundation. To achieve its mission, the foundation supports a variety of programs including an After School Program, Summer Basketball League and mentoring programs for girls, the Annual DSF Black Tie and Sneaker Gala, as well as "Day in the Park," an annual daylong community celebration in North Philadelphia.

The goals of the Dawn Staley Foundation are:

1. To provide a safe environment for children residing in North Philadelphia so that they can enjoy spending quality time with their friends and family members.
2. To provide positive programs for middle school girls in low-income communities in North Philadelphia, which emphasize the importance of education and encourage higher education.
3. To use sports as a vehicle for developing leadership skills, discipline, self-esteem and teamwork."

The Dawn Staley Foundation has been operating successfully since 1996 and is still going strong.

Dawn Staley's Remarkable Coaching Career

I am told that coaching is a year around job. During the season coaches work 60 to 70 hour work weeks during the season. Pre-season they are watching games tapes from other teams and their own and making new plays. Post season, they are doing the same thing.

And then their is the recruiting. Listening to scouting reports, and in college visiting high school students to convince them and their parents that Temple is the place to be!

I am exhausted just thinking about it. Yet Dawn Staley added this schedule to that already included playing for the Charlotte Sting in the WNBA, which included a long summer season and pre-season practice.

I am getting the vapors!

When she was named coach at Temple University in 2000 she took over a failing program. The first year they made the NIT. In the next 4 years they won the Atlantic 10 tournaments which got them to the NCAA. In 2005 they had a 25 game winning streak, then the longest for any college team, men or women.

In 2008 The University of South Carolina hired her to build their program. Her record at Temple, a troubled program, was an amazing 172-80.

Dawn Staley Plays Pro Ball and Coaches College At the Same Time

And does both very well. This is one amazing woman.

Backstage interview with Dawn STALEY: by FIBAWorld | video info

4 ratings | 1,868 views

curated content from YouTube

4 Olympics With 4 Gold Medal Teams

She played on the Olympic Gold medal teams in Atlanta in 1996, Sidney in 2000 and Athens in 2004. In Beijing in 2008 she was an assistant coach on another Gold medal winning team.

In Athens, she given the well deserved honor of carrying the American Flag in the Parade of Athletes at the opening ceremonies.

In 1996, she gave her first gold medal to her mother, Estelle, who she stated was the biggest influence on her life.

“Have I mentioned that she did all this... holds the NCAA record for steals...and is only 5'6"?”

A Long and Proud Professional Career

After college, Staley played in the now defunct American Basketball League, that played during the winter, the season of the NBA. Her team the Richmond Rage went to the finals.

In 1999, the WNBA had their first season and Staley was drafted by the Charlotte Sting, the companion team to the NBA's Charlotte Hornets. This league played in the summer, and most teams are connected to NBA teams. This league continues to grow.

In 2001 Staley and the Sting played in the WNBA championships, losing to the juggernaut Houston Comets. In 2005 she was traded to that team, but their time had passed and she did not get a championship. She retired after one year there.

Dawn Staley in College and High School

Staley was named the national high school player of the year during her final season at Dobbins Tech High School in Philadelphia.

WOW! THE high school player of the year.

She played at the University of Virginia and was ACC female athlete of the year in 1991 and 1992 as well as national player of the year.

Her team went to 4 NCAA tournaments, 3 Final Fours and a Championship game.

In college she scored 2,135 points and holds the NCAA record for steals with 454.

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ChineseKitesforKids May 1, 2011 @ 9:41 am | delete

A very empowering woman.

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akumar46 Apr 30, 2011 @ 1:57 pm | delete

Great achievements by such a wonderful lady.Thanks for sharing.

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7Suze7 Apr 30, 2011 @ 1:11 pm | delete

Wow! Amazing woman!

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Momsbusy247 Mar 31, 2011 @ 7:39 pm | delete

I always liked Dawn, thought she was an amazing player and coach, but I did not know everything else she was doing. Thank you for teaching me something new today.