CLEVELAND (April 4, 2024) — University of South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley has been named the 2024 WBCA NCAA Division I Coach of the Year, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association announced today. WBCA Executive Director Danielle Donehew presented Staley with the Pat Summitt Trophy, named for the late legendary University of Tennessee coach, here earlier today.
It is the third straight year and fourth time in the last five years that Staley has been so honored by her peers. She is the first coach to receive the honor three consecutive years, and only University of Connecticut head coach Geno Auriemma, with seven total WBCA NCAA Division I Coach of the Year awards, has won more.
“I am honored to announce Dawn Staley as the 2024 recipient of the Pat Summitt Trophy presented to the WBCA NCAA Division I Coach of the Year,” said Donehew. “Dawn is well on her way to establishing a women’s basketball dynasty at South Carolina. This is an unprecedented third consecutive WBCA Coach of the Year honor for Dawn and is her fourth in the last five years. She has led a team with five new starters to a 36-0 record and a berth in the Women’s Final Four. Dawn’s peers have acknowledged her remarkable success by once again awarding her the WBCA’s highest coaching honor. Congratulations, Dawn.”
The WBCA NCAA Division I Coach of the Year is selected by the WBCA NCAA Division I Awards Committee. This year’s finalists were:
|
Name |
School |
|
Jennie Barancyzk |
University of Oklahoma |
|
Lisa Bluder |
University of Iowa |
|
Kenny Brooks |
Virginia Tech |
|
Lisa Fortier |
Gonzaga University |
|
Lindy La Rocque |
University of Nevada, Las Vegas |
|
Felisha Legette-Jack |
Syracuse University |
|
Kevin McGuff |
Ohio State University |
|
Jeff Mittie |
Kansas State University |
|
Yolett McPhee-McCuin |
University of Mississippi |
|
Dawn Staley |
University of South Carolina |
Visit www.wbca.org/recognize/ to see a list of past recipients of the award.
About the WBCA
The Women's Basketball Coaches Association is the professional association for coaches of women's and girls' basketball at all levels of competition. Founded in 1981, the WBCA offers educational resources that coaches need to help make themselves better leaders, teachers and mentors to their players; provides opportunities for coaches to connect with peers in the profession; serves as the unifying voice of a diverse community of coaches to the organizations that control the game; and celebrates those coaches, players and other individuals who excel each year and contribute to the advancement of the sport. Visit WBCA.org for more details about the association.
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