With UNC deal in works for Hatchell, focus is on Staley

While one candidate for South Carolina’s women’s basketball vacancy pulled out of the running, discussions with another candidate intensified.

Sylvia Hatchell, North Carolina’s Hall of Fame coach, withdrew from consideration for the USC job Thursday with the promise of a revised contract from her athletics director — the scenario most observers predicted when the 56-year-old Hatchell’s name first surfaced in connection with the Gamecocks last week.

Meanwhile, USC’s search for Susan Walvius’ successor appears to have turned to Temple coach Dawn Staley. The former Virginia and WNBA star was in Columbia this week to interview with USC officials, according to two sources close to the situation.

A possible stumbling block with Staley could be money.

As one of the 20 highest paid women’s coaches in the country, Staley has a guaranteed financial package believed to be worth about $400,000 a year, twice what Walvius made at USC. Staley received a six-year contract extension at Temple last year that includes a substantial buyout, according to an industry source.

Staley, who turns 38 this weekend, is a Philadelphia native who has taken her hometown Owls to the NCAA tournament five consecutive seasons. Staley is the winningest coach in Temple history with a record of 172-80 and four Atlantic Ten titles.

A three-time Olympic gold medalist as a point guard, Staley is the assistant coach of the U.S. national team and is in line to be the head coach of Team USA in the 2012 Olympics.

If USC athletics director Eric Hyman is unable to reach an agreement with Staley, he has a number of other options.

Tennessee longtime assistant Holly Warlick told Knoxville radio station WNML that she has a second interview with USC scheduled this week. Warlick has played for and coached with legendary Lady Vols coach Pat Summitt for a total of 27 years.

If Warlick is the choice, she would become the second Tennessee assistant to leave Summitt’s staff this spring for a head-coaching position after Nikki Caldwell was hired at UCLA last month.

USC also has been in contact with Chattanooga coach Wes Moore, the former Francis Marion coach who has led the Mocs to the Southern Conference tournament title in seven of the past eight years. Moore is 244-66 in 10 seasons at Chattanooga.

Attempts to reach Staley, Warlick and Moore this week have been unsuccessful.

Reach Person at (803) 771-8496.