Dawn Staley’s Coaching Change Is Changing the Classroom for 110 South Carolina Students…

🔥 Dawn Staley’s Coaching Change Is Changing the Classroom for 110 South Carolina Students

🏀 Dawn Staley Takes Her Leadership Lessons From the Court to the Classroom

South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley is expanding her influence beyond basketball with the launch of the Dawn Staley Leadership Academy, a new academic program at the University of South Carolina.

The academy began this fall with 110 students from the university’s College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management. The program grew from a leadership course inspired by Staley’s 2025 memoir, Uncommon Favor: Basketball, North Philly, My Mother, and the Life Lessons I Learned from All Three. 

The curriculum focuses on self-leadership, teamwork, communication, resilience, advocacy and community impact. Students who progress through the program will complete additional coursework and a community project, with participants earning a Staley Scholar leadership distinction at graduation. 

Staley has also been personally involved, making appearances during the program and sharing lessons from her experiences as a coach and leader.

“Leadership starts now,” Staley said, emphasizing the importance of developing leadership skills before students enter professional leadership roles. 

The academy represents a new way for Staley’s coaching and leadership philosophy to reach students across the university—not only athletes.

Source: University of South Carolina / Greenville News