Lindsay Gottlieb and Dawn Staley stand currently head and shoulders above the other two finalists. Will either one win the coveted award?
Dawn Staley, Lindsay Gottlieb Top Naismith Coach Finalists
As March Madness rolls on, we bear witness to coaching excellence. Regardless of gender, South Carolina’s Staley and University of Southern California’s Gottlieb consistently put in two of the better coaching performances in the game.
Now, as their teams prepare for the next round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament, the coaches ready their programs for whatever rigors the deep tournament run unleashed. Yet, through the stress, both programs and their respective leaders attack the process one game at a time.
As star guard JuJu Watkins lay on the floor, clutching her knee, college basketball held its collective breath. One of the better scorers went to the ground after sustaining a season-ending ACL tear. By that measure, USC’s collective tournament hopes seemingly took a dash. Yet, the calmest person in the building remained Gottlieb.
FINALISTS FOR THE 2025 NAISMITH COLLEGE COACH OF THE YEAR AWARD 🏆
Lindsay Gottlieb of Southern California
Cori Close of UCLA
Mark Campbell of TCU
Dawn Staley of South Carolina#NCAAWBB pic.twitter.com/ghpAQpAVa7— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB) March 25, 2025
Showing steely reserve, Gottlieb’s team kept pushing and emerged with a rousing 37-point victory over Mississippi State. Despite her best athlete playing for just five minutes, Gottlieb’s team persevered. After the game, the coach spoke about the situation.
“We don’t change our goals,” Gottlieb said to Athlon. “But we give a little extra energy, you know, for what she would bring. Anytime one man is down, we step up for one another because that’s who we are.
“You guys did something really special today that is more to me than just the Sweet 16. I have to tell you how incredibly proud I am of the way you stepped up for one another.
“Heartbroken if there’s a serious injury for JuJu, but at the same time, I hope she can at some point see the significance that she has beyond her talent and abilities. That’s what’s generational about it, the way she’s galvanized everyone,” the USC head coach declared.
In all honesty, USC will struggle against tougher teams, but they’re not to be pitied, and they can still continue the run. It will be more difficult.
Despite winning 77.3 percent of her games, including three national titles since 2017, Dawn Staley still fights. Whether it’s her Philly mentality of ” us against the World” nature or the tenacity that made her an All-American point guard, Staley instilled toughness in her team.
This season, the Gamecocks dropped three games, the same number as the last three seasons. Their leading scorer, Joyce Edwards, averages just 13.2 points a night.
Yet the team’s strength remains its defense, which allows only 57.3 points per game. Staley doesn’t wear bright outfits that grab attention like Kim Mulkey or stand with the stern professorial glare of Geno Auriemma.
KEEP READING: Top 5 Dawn Staley Outfits That Stole the Show on the Sidelines
Meanwhile, Staley wins and inspires her team to play hard from the first whistle to the final buzzer. Without a superstar, 2024-25 could go down as Staley’s best season from a coaching standpoint.
Gottlieb and Staley rank among the coaching elite in college basketball. Each coach endures different adversities. One just lost the best scorer in the nation. On the other hand, the other doesn’t seem to enjoy the same talent level as in the previous season. The WNBA cleans South Carolina out on a yearly basis.
However, through injury or turnover, you will never hear excuses from either coach. They stay focused on the end result while serving as equal parts mentor, drill sergeant, and counselor during the year. One of these coaches will raise the Naismith College Coach of the Year award. However, for Gottleib and Staley, there’s still work to do.
Don’t miss a moment of March Madness! Download your 2025 NCAA Tournament printable bracket and stay on top of every game, matchup, and Cinderella story. Get yours now!
