Who is Dawn Staley? More on the NCAA coach with Philly ties

Women's basketball phenom and Philadelphia native Dawn Staley was one focal point women's college basketball this weekend, making it all the way to the championship game with the South Carolina Gamecocks before falling short to UCLA. Along the way, the focus on the game shifted to its coaches, drawing even more national attention to the league during a Final Four matchup that culminated in a verbal altercation between UConn head coach Geno Auriemma and Staley. Whether you've followed her since her 2008 start with South Carolina or are new to the Staley wave, here's a brief introduction to the women's coach.

Who is Dawn Staley? Staley has been the head women's basketball coach at South Carolina since her hiring in 2008. Before that, she spent almost eight years heading the women's basketball program at Temple University , leading the Philadelphia team to five NCAA appearances, a first-ever place on the Top 25 National Ranking and the team's first-ever A-10 Tournament titles.

Is Dawn Staley from Philly? Staley's seasons at Temple were not the only tie the coach has to the Philly region. As a senior at Dobbins Tech, Staley was named USA TODAY's 1988 National High School Player of the year.

How old is Dawn Staley? Born May 4, 1970 , Staley is 55 years old. Where did Dawn Staley play basketball?