Staley Named New Women's Basketball Coach ::

PHILADELPHIA - Dawn Staley, a Philadelphia native and a

standout basketball

player at the high school, college and professional levels, was

formally

introduced by Athletic Director Dave O'Brien at The Liacouras

Center as the

new women's basketball coach at Temple University in a media

conference

today (Wed., April 12).

"When we started this process, we were looking for an individual

who was a

proven winner, as either a coach or player and had the charisma

and fan

following to help us recruit nationally and build a strong fan

base,"

O'Brien said. "We were looking for a gem, and we found a bright

diamond

right in our own backyard. Having recently experienced a great

week with the

Women's Final Four and its rich Philadelphia women's

basketball tradition,

we are particularly pleased to turn our program over to a true

Philadelphia

women's basketball legend, Dawn Staley."

Staley, 29, succeeds Kristen Foley as the 21st head coach in

Temple women's

basketball history. She began her storied basketball career at

Dobbins Tech

High School (1986-88) in Philadelphia where she was named

USA Today's

National High School Player of the Year and led Dobbins to three

straight

Philadelphia Public League championships.

Staley was named a three-time Kodak All-American while

starring at the

University of Virginia (1989-92). She helped UVA to a 110-21

record and four

appearances in the NCAA Tournament. Three of those trips led

to Final Four

appearances in 1990, 1991 and 1992, and in 1991 the Cavaliers

were the

national runners-up. She holds the NCAA record for steals with

454 and was

named the National Player of the Year in 1991 and 1992. In

addition, she was

the ACC Conference Player of the Year in 1991 and 1992 and the

Rookie of the

Year in 1989.

From 1992 to 1994, Staley played with a number of professional

teams in

France, Italy, Brazil and Spain. She began her United States

professional

playing career when she joined the Richmond Rage of the ABL

in 1996-97 and

helped the team to the ABL finals. The Rage moved to

Philadelphia for the

1997-98 season and played at The Liacouras Center on

Temple's main campus.

She averaged 14.0 ppg., 7.2 apg., and 3.5 rpg. in her ABL career

and was a

two time ABL All-Star.

Staley switched leagues to the WNBA in 1999 and led the

Charlotte Sting

(1999-present) to a second place finish in the Eastern

Conference and to the

Eastern Conference finals. Overall, she ranked 24th in the WNBA

in scoring

(11.5 ppg.), second in assists (5.5 apg.) and second in free

throw shooting

(93.4 percent). She earned the 1999 WNBA Sportsmanship

award.

Staley is also a member of the USA National Team

(1989-present). Among her

many accomplishments, she helped the squad capture the 1999

U.S. Olympic Cup

gold medal, was a member of the 1998 gold medal winning USA

World

Championship team and was a member of the gold

medal-winning 1996 USA

Olympic team. Her 1994 team won the Goodwill Games gold

medal, and she was

named tournament MVP.

Staley heads the Dawn Staley Foundation in Philadelphia, which

is aimed at

giving inner-city kids positive input. The foundation sponsors

after-school

programs, a three-hour focus on academics and athletics at the

Hank Gathers

Recreation Center, as well as summer leagues and fund-raising

activities.

She was awarded the 1999 WNBA Entrepreneurial Spirit Award

for her work with

the Foundation.