Sheriff Antionette V. Irving named Dawn Staley an Honorary Deputy of the City by presenting her with a certificate and honorary badge at a special presentation at the Richmond City Justice Center on Saturday, May 25, 2019. The presentation took place after Staley toured the facility and met with staff and individuals incarcerated. Staley also observed the intake process, internalprograms, and obtained a briefing of the various aspects of the Richmond City Sheriff’s Office. After the presentation, a reception took place at the Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club in Church Hill, where Staley was the speaker at an intimate forum with area basketball coaches.
Staley is a three-time Olympic gold medalist, and was elected to carry the United States flag at the opening ceremony of the 2004 Summer Olympics. An alumna of the University of Virginia, Staley played point guard at the university before winning her first gold medal in the 1996. She played professionally in the American Basketball League and the WNBA. In 2011, Staley was voted by fans as one of the Top 15 players in WNBA history. She was elected to the Naismith Memorial BasketballHall of Fame in 2013.
While still a WNBA player, Staley started coaching the Temple University Owls women’s basketball team in 2000. In six years at Temple, she led the program to six NCAA tournaments, three regular season conference championships, and four conference tournament titles. On May 7, 2008, Staley was named the University of South Carolina women’s head basketball coach. Over the following six seasons, she improved her program’s record every year, up to winning the SEC in 2013–2014. In late 2014, her team achieved the program’s first #1 ranking, making her only the second individual to both play on and coach a #1 ranked team. Staley has gone on to lead South Carolina to four SEC regular season championships, four SEC tournament championships, six Sweet 16 bids, two Final Fours, and on April 2, 2017, she guided the South Carolina Gamecocks to the program’s first NCAA Women’s Basketball National Championship. On March 10, 2017, Staley was named head coach of USA national team.
“In Richmond, Staley is known for her flashy passes and inventive dribbling as the point guard for the Richmond Rage in the ABL. It is great to have Dawn back in Richmond as an Honorary Deputy Sheriff of the City. This fulfills her dream of being a part of law enforcement. She has served both the Commonwealth and the City well. We are very proud of her and our doors are always open to her,” said Sheriff Irving.
Photos Released by Richmond City Sheriff’s Office. In photos: Dr. Antionette V. Irving, Richmond City Sherif; Sgt. Jeffrey E. Owens; Dawn M. Staley