Temple extends Staley

By John McMullen
The Phanatic Magazine

Temple University women's head basketball coach Dawn Staley signed a six-year contract extension on Thursday.

"We are pleased to announce that Dawn Staley will continue to serve as the head coach of the Temple University women's basketball program," said Temple University president Ann Weaver Hart. "Dawn has made Temple one of the top women's basketball programs in the nation, and she has done it the right way."

The Philadelphia native is a two-time Atlantic 10 Conference Coach of the Year(2004, 2005) and has guided the Owls to four conference championships over the past seven seasons. Her best season came in 2004-05 when she led Temple to a 28-4 overall mark, and a perfect 16-0 record in A-10 play.

Staley also made history at Temple when her 2004-05 team became the first-ever Owl women's basketball squad to garner a national ranking.

Staley was a three-time All-American while starring at the University of Virginia (1989-92), where she helped the team to a 110-21 record and four appearances in the NCAA Tournament, three of which led to the Final Four.

In the pros, Staley is a five-time WNBA All-Star and was selected to the league's All-Decade Team. She is also a three-time Olympic gold medalist forTeam USA.

"Dawn Staley has excelled in every aspect of her life -- as a student-athlete, as a professional player, as an Olympian and here at Temple as a head coach,"said Temple athletic director Bill Bradshaw. "She has inspired young women throughout her life, and given back to the community through the Dawn Staley Foundation. She is a Philadelphia icon and provides Temple women's basketball with an image commensurate with the University's mission of access to excellence."