South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley is aiming for yet another deep run in the NCAA national championships next season. As of now, the legendary Gamecocks coach is busy with a few off-season moves, such as checking out AAU games for recruits and making deals. However, she took a break from that as well, as she recently celebrated the team’s associate head coach Lisa Boyer’s birthday.
Celebrated @GamecockWBB own @Coachboyer birthday with make your own pizza. Boyer is notoriously known for her after dinner walks so we walk! Happy birthday again Boyer! pic.twitter.com/mcTficepbs
— dawnstaley (@dawnstaley) June 17, 2025
As Staley noted, Boyer is known for her dinner walks, and the coaching staff celebrated the associate coach’s birthday by going out for a walk, this time with a ‘make your own pizza’ activity.
Boyer has been with South Carolina since 2008. She started as an assistant coach before being promoted to associate head coach in 2010. She was part of the 2024 NCAA championship run with the Gamecocks and was also there when the team reached the championship game again last April.
Her connection with Staley, however, runs deeper than their time at South Carolina. Between 2002 and 2008, Boyer assisted then-Temple Owls coach. When Staley took the head coaching job at South Carolina in 2008, Boyer went with her. This means she helped Staley win the national tournament thrice, including in 2017 and 2022.
Dawn Staley celebrates former South Carolina Gamecocks players after their big WNBA win
Meanwhile, Dawn Staley has shown that she has not forgotten the players who played under her, even if they are now playing in the WNBA.
This was evident as Staley gave a shout-out to the Atlanta Dream’s Allisha Gray and Te-Hina Paopao after their dominant 89-56 win over the Washington Mystics on Father’s Day, June 15. The two players were under Staley at South Carolina in college before heading to the WNBA.
“Shout out to @GamecockWBB own @Graytness_15 @tehinapaopaoo showing out with career high in points for their daddies on Father’s Day! Com going to have to save this post bc I know it’s going to happen again!” Dawn Staley tweeted.
Shout out to @GamecockWBB own @Graytness_15 @tehinapaopaoo showing out with career high in points for their daddies on Father’s Day! Com going to have to save this post bc I know it’s going to happen again! 🥰🥰🥰
— dawnstaley (@dawnstaley) June 16, 2025
Gray helped Staley win the NCAA national championship in 2017, while Paopao was part of the 2024 championship team. Both are now strong players for the Atlanta Dream and are among the many South Carolina alumni whom Staley molded during their time at the school.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
