“A lot of people notice when you succeed, but they don't see what it takes to get there.”

– Dawn Staley

Dawn Staley has been the head coach of the University of South Carolina women's basketball team since 2008. In her 15 seasons, she has won 2 national championships, 7 SEC Tournament titles and regular season championships, and has been named National Coach of the Year four times. Staley has solidified herself as one of the best college basketball coaches ever. 

Not only is she a great coach, but Dawn Staley was also an incredible player. She was the 1988 USA Today National High School Player of the Year and then went on to play for four years at the University of Virginia. There, she was a 2x National Player of the Year, 3x Kodak All-American, 2x ACC Player of the Year, ACC Rookie of the Year, and recorded more than 2,000 points, 700 rebounds, 700 assists, and 400 steals in her college career (ACC record). Staley also won three Olympic gold medals and two FIBA World Championship medals and played in the WNBA for seven seasons (plus two in the ABL). 

Dawn Staley's resume could go on forever. She has done countless impressive things in her basketball career so far, and she still seems to be making history. With all the success she has had, her advice above is important. Everyone wants the glory, but not everyone is willing to do what it takes. Dawn Staley may make playing and coaching basketball look easy, but her success comes after countless hours of hard work and dedication. If you want the fame that comes with being a great athlete, you have to be willing to put in the work when nobody is watching.