A new journey: Staley bound for Beijing as assistant coach

As the makeup of the United States women’s basketball team shifts to a younger generation, legendary guard Dawn Staley is going through some changes of her own.

The former University of Virginia guard will chase her fourth Olympic gold medal this month in Beijing, but in a much more indirect way than before. After winning gold in Atlanta, Sydney and Athens as the American point guard, Staley will lead her former teammates as an assistant coach.

“It’s not going to be as exhausting physically,” said the 38-year-old Staley. “Maybe mentally. I’m just glad that I can be a part of USA Basketball. I love it and I cherish each moment.”

Staley is one of three assistants under head coach Anne Donovan, joining Texas coach Gail Goestenkors (formerly of Duke) and Mike Thibault, head coach of the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun. Staley is familiar with Donovan, having played for her with the Charlotte Sting of the WNBA. Donovan also coached Staley on the 2004 Olympic team.

That trip was momentous for Staley, and not just because of her third gold medal. The U.S. team captains for each sport chose her to carry the American flag at the opening ceremonies in Athens.

Staley described the opening ceremonies as “one of the most gratifying, one of the most surreal experiences of my life. It’s not anything you dream about. It’s not something you want to achieve.

“I don’t think any athlete grows up wanting to be the flag bearer. It’s an honor that’s bestowed on you that people don’t really anticipate, but it’s quite rewarding.”

Staley the coach has a long way to go to match Staley the player. She played at UVa from 1989-92 and held the NCAA record with 454 career steals at the time of her graduation. Her 729 assists were a UVa record until Sharnee Zoll eclipsed her mark last season, and she remains the only ACC player — male or female — to total 2,000 points, 700 rebounds, 700 assists and 400 steals.

She led the Cavaliers to three straight Final Four appearances — the only such trips in school history — from 1990-92, with UVa falling in overtime in the national championship game in 1991.

Staley was a three-time WNBA All-Star and was named to the league’s All-Decade team, but perhaps her greatest honor came in 2007 when the league created the Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award. The honor is given to the player who best exemplifies the characteristics of a leader in her community.

Just as Staley was noted for giving back to the fans and the community, she’s now happy to share her wealth of knowledge with the current generation of U.S. players. She is one of three American women to earn three straight Olympic gold medals, joining former teammates Lisa Leslie and Sheryl Swoopes. Leslie is still active with the team.

“Because I’ve been teammates with some of the players, I sometimes give them a little chit-chat about what the coaching staff’s perception about how hard they’re working,” Staley said. “I think they appreciate that coming from someboy that has walked the walk.”

Staley’s transition period won’t end after the closing ceremonies in Beijing. This winter, she’ll coach her first season at the University of South Carolina after seven years leading the program at Temple University in her hometown of Philadelphia.

For now, she’s happy to feel the thrill of Olympic competition once again — and to pass on the lessons learned in a lifetime on the court.

“I just sit back and look at it with a different perspective,” she said. “I’ll be able to view it as I always have — just being in the background, taking it all in. It’s an incredible feeling to walk into that stadium and hear people chanting ‘USA.’ It makes you more patriotic and makes you appreciate your country a lot more.”