South Carolina Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley once opened up about her furry friend that has helped her stay grounded in her success-filled career. Back in March of 2018, reporter Allison Glock released a feature article on ESPN that dives deep into Staley and both of her lives on the court and off it, through which she talks all about the mentalities that has made her successful.
Known for being a hard-nosed coach and competitive during her days playing both college basketball and professional hoops, Staley admitted that her then five-month-old Havanese puppy, Champion, has kept her sane throughout all of the adversities she has faced. The interview to her by ESPN was being conducted as Champion found himself in Staley’s feet, prompting the-now 55-year-old to talk about him.
“As a point guard, you figure out whose buttons to push and when to push, when to pull back. I kind of lost those qualities when I started. I hit the ground running. It was like, ‘Yo, we have to be successful, and this is how we need to be successful!’ Staley then went over to stroke Champion’s fur, saying, “He’s softened me.”
Staley and the Gamecocks just finished the 2024-25 season with an overall record of 35-4 (15-1 SEC) and were unable to accomplish their consecutive national title pursuit. This is because they lost in the 2025 NCAA championship game as the 2024 defending national champions against the UConn Huskies by 23 points, 82-59.
Dawn Staley Says That It Is Essential That One Gets Uncomfortable To Become Stronger
Later on in the same interview with ESPN, coach Dawn Staley shared that she believes for one to become stronger, they’d have to experience uncomfortable situations meant to make one grow. This is in contrast with the feelings her dog, Champion, gives to her as Staley previously said that he softens her while she has a knack for calling out individuals who don’t thrive in uncomfortable situations.
“I don’t want to get in the mode of having help every which way I turn. I think it weakens you. And I don’t ever want to be looked at as being weak. To grow as a person, you have to make yourself uncomfortable. It’s a pet peeve. If a player shows signs of weakness, I sometimes have to walk away because I don’t understand. And, you’re not going to make me understand. You got cramps? You had a hard test today?,” Staley said.
“I know I can come off as being not empathetic. I have mean looks. I just know how I would handle things, and it’s wrong for me to project, but that’s my mode,” she added.
Staley just wrapped up her 17th year at the helm of the South Carolina Gamecocks coaching staff, and will now enter her 18th campaign with the program in the 2025-26 season looking to win her and South Carolina’s fourth overall NCAA championship.
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