Dawn Staley will be introduced as South Carolina's women's basketball coach on Saturday, pending approval of the University of South Carolina board of trustees earlier that day, sources confirmed early Wednesday.

Staley visited the USC campus last week and USC athletics director Eric Hyman spent most of Saturday with his prospective coach in Philadelphia. The two reached a contract agreement late Tuesday.

Staley, currently the head coach at Temple, will earn a base salary of $250,000 with the total package reaching $650,000, according to the source. She earned $500,000 this past season at Temple.

The proposed contract also includes a clause that USC will assist Staley in paying a buyout clause in her contract with Temple.

The 38-year-old Staley is the winningest coach in Temple history with a record of 172-80. She has led the Owls to the NCAA tournament in six of her eight seasons while winning four Atlantic Ten titles.

Staley is a native of Philadelphia who played point guard at Virginia from 1989-92 and was a WNBA All-Star. She has deep roots in Philadelphia, where she was a prep star and maintains a charitable foundation.

But Staley also has ties to South Carolina. Her mother is from the state and Staley has cousins who went to school in North.

Staley, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, is an assistant for the U.S. team that will play in the Beijing Olympics this summer. She is considered a leading candidate to be the head coach of the U.S. squad in the 2012 Olympics.

Staff writer Joseph Person contributed to this report.

Dang, that's a big move right there Carolina! I wonder if she'll retain Ronald Hughey (former SCSU WBB asst. coach) on her staff as he was on the previous Gamecocks coaching staff.

Wow!!! I am actually shocked that USC would pick a sister to coach the Lady Gamecocks. They had to give her a nice chunk of change for her to leave her hometown (She's from Philly). I think that most black folk in Philly have relatives in SC (My opinion only.

This is a great hire. They actually want to be a team that competes in the SEC!

quote:

Originally posted by hampton blueblood:
This is a great hire. They actually want to be a team that competes in the SEC!

Very surprising.

I hate USC, but this was a good hire

I too hate the Shamecocks. I hope she doesn't end up in that almost full coaches graveyad over there.

quote:

Originally posted by hulaw94:
Very surprising.

Why are you surprised?

Now that was a sweet move by USC....

quote:

Originally posted by Pitbull:
Now that was a sweet move by USC....

I'm not the biggfest Gamecock fan,but I agree with you PitBull. That was a sweet move.

Sweet move for her as well ... In getting out from under Temple to make it to the bright lights of the SEC.

Next step up from here is the WNBA.

My favorite female hooper of all time.

the only thing i'm shocked about is why she didn't leave temple sooner! with her track record, she could have easily landed a big time job before now. i guess since she's from philly, she wanted to show temple some loyalty. i'd be willing to bet she has a clause in her contract that allows her to opt out for her alma mater if the uva head position opens up any time soon…

"Bulldogz" ...

Don't know if y'all don't play them annually anyway ...

But if y'all don't already have them on your WBB schedule this coming season ...

Fitting them in - and maybe ink them for a few years - might be something worth pursuing ...

... Especially as long as you all get the return games in your barn.

quote:

Originally posted by oleschoolaggie:
the only thing i'm shocked about is why she didn't leave temple sooner! with her track record, she could have easily landed a big time job before now. i guess since she's from philly, she wanted to show temple some loyalty. i'd be willing to bet she has a clause in her contract that allows her to opt out for her alma mater if the uva head position opens up any time soon…

You're okay with her leaving Temple, but FAMU is wrong IF we had gone for someone in the HBCU ranks.

How hypocritical is that?

She should have waited for the UVa spot. Its time for old @ss Debbie to retire anyway.

This is messed up because I thought for sure that she would be back in Va. But I am glad to see her in a TOP conference.

Glad to see her moving up. I was a big fan when played with the Charlotte Sting. Last season I actually bumped into her and the Lady Owls basketball team at the Cheesecake Factory for their post game meal. Man I couldn't help but compare that to where our kids have to eat.

Damn the gamecocks! I don't care who they hire.............

The Philly papers gave her a great tribute.Truly a great player who turned around a garbage program.Glad some sisters are getting shots at running programs with almost al Black rosters.