PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A uniquely successful native daughter, Dawn Staley, returned to North Philadelphia Monday to be honored at her alma mater.
The crowd in the auditorium erupted for the Dobbins Career and Technical High School class of 1988 alumna, who just coached the South Carolina women’s basketball team to a perfect 38-0 season and their third NCAA championship in the last eight years.
Staley has won Olympic gold as a player and coach and is in the Women’s and Naismith Basketball Halls of Fame. But it all started at Dobbins.
“It’s hard for me to receive the love that I’m receiving because I’m such a giver,” Staley told the crowd. “It brings me back to who I am. And who I am is a product,” Staley said, pausing as her voice choked with emotion.
She said it makes her think about her mother, who died in 2017.
Zachary Campbell, a senior guard on the Dobbins basketball team, says Staley has been an inspiration.
“Someone to look up to, because she came from the North Philly streets just like we did. So seeing her make it and be successful at this level motivates us to do it too,” Campbell said. “It makes us feel good, because some people who make it, they forget about everybody. And she didn’t forget about us.”
Temple University Assistant Basketball Coach and the Owls’ all-time leading scorer Mark Macon wasn’t surprised a large crowd turned out to honor Staley.
“People love success. You want to be around success and involved with success and involved with being a champion, and that’s what she is,” Macon said.
Staley said Philly is a big part of who she is.
“Anytime I can come back, it always seems that I just feel the love,” she said.
Despite her success, Staley said she has no desire to coach in the NBA.
“I don’t. I don’t. I don’t. I think I have the best of the best jobs,” she said. “I get a chance to have an impact on young people at the most transformational years of their lives.”