She’s one of the most respected voices in sports: a Hall of Famer, three-time Olympic gold medalist as a player, and three-time national champion coach. As head coach of South Carolina women’s basketball, Dawn Staley has built a powerhouse program rooted in discipline and heart. In this episode, Dawn shares the personal journey behind the success—from growing up in North Philly to leading with faith, not fear. She unpacks the power of daily standards, the lessons hidden in setbacks, and what she learned when reaching her biggest goal still left her searching for more.
Dawn’s new book, Uncommon Favor, is out now.
The majority of what you’ve done-- that’s who you are. Share on XShow Notes
- How Dawn’s quiet nature helps her lead with intention and conviction. (2:45)
- Lessons from growing up in the projects of north Philly and learning to face challenges head-on (4:51)
- The life lessons and values that Dawn learned from her mom (6:50)
- Dawn shares how discipline became the key to success, beyond the court (9:23)
- Why success comes down to meeting your daily standard (12:23)
- Dawn on being a “dream merchant” and an inclusive leader (16:34)
- Dawn’s “look-sound-feel” principle of leadership (18:55)
- Dawn shares how achieving her Olympic dream left her unexpectedly empty (19:10)
- Why success hinges on consistency and the ability to use failure as fuel (21:11)
- What “uncommon favor” means and how Dawn’s faith shapes her journey (23:21)
Resources / People Mentioned
- Uncommon Favor by Dawn Staley
- Dawn Staley emotional after SC Gamecocks complete perfect season
- University of South Carolina women’s basketball
Recommended For You
Did you enjoy this episode? Then listen to:
- Dawn Staley on Building a Championship Culture
- Choose Hard Things with Notre Dame Football Coach Marcus Freeman
- Geno Auriemma on Winning (And Winning Some More)
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