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Q&A: USC women's hoops coach Dawn Staley
Dawn Staley
Gerry Melendez/gmelendez@thestate.com
Posted on 11.17.08
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Staley's home debut
Dawn Staley makes her home coaching debut Wednesday at 7 p.m. vs. Clemson.USC's new women's basketball coach sat down recently with GoGamecocks the Magazine's Joseph Person and discussed Columbia's late-night dining options, her favorite movies and why you'll never catch her on a WaveRunner at Lake Murray.
QUESTION: What do you miss most about Philadelphia?
ANSWER: The restaurants. The access to the restaurants, they stay open pretty late. When I’m familiar with something, I’ll just continue to go to the same restaurants. That’s what I did in Philly, and I have yet to have enough time to go out and find those restaurants. Blue Marlin is one that I like to go to, though. And Villa Tronco.
Q: You’re something of a night owl. When did you start keeping that schedule?
A: It’s always been a part of me. I work best outside of my house. I work best at the office, mainly when no one’s there. I usually come in a little earlier than others and stay a little later after they’ve gone home. I just work best that way. I don’t work better during the day because a lot of people come in the office. When I have my time, I think better. I think clearer when I’m able to spend a little time with myself. Think about practice and the personalities of our team, the characteristics of our team and all that.
Q: Do you like to have your iPod going when you’re working?
A: No. I like to listen to music in my car or if I’m cleaning the house. At the office, I’ll have the TV going. Not necessarily paying attention to it, but I like to hear the noise in the background.
Q: Are you a music buff? Do you ever go listen to any live music?
A: No. I’m a homebody. They just tried to give me some Rascal Flatts tickets and I said, “I think somebody else would probably appreciate it a lot more than I would.” (Laughs)
Q: What’s a perfect night for you?
A: Probably just hanging out at home, put a movie in. I never really get through the movie. Seems like movies are my Ambien. I’ll put a movie on, I cannot get through an entire movie at night, so I like to watch a movie a couple of days in a row to actually get through the entire movie. But I enjoy that. I actually enjoy having our team over. Our team is pretty talented dancing-wise. So they like to entertain in that way. So that’s kind of a good night for me.
Q: How are your dance steps?
A: Mine? I’m a classic two-stepper (laughs).
Q: Do you dance much?
A: Nah.
Q: Just at weddings?
A: I don’t even do it at weddings. I like to watch, though. I enjoy watching people, like coach (Carla) McGhee can really dance. I enjoy watching her do it because she’s tall and she’s fluid with it. Maybe secretly I would want to be a better dancer or a better singer, but I think my talent stops right at basketball and other areas.
Q: What’s your favorite Philly movie? Is it “Rocky” or “Philadelphia” or neither of them?
A: I like them. I don’t think they’re my favorite. I like watching Philly movies when I’m outside of Philly because I have an appreciation for all the different sights. I just enjoy movies, it doesn’t matter where they’re filmed. It’s kind of an escape for me.
Q: What are a couple of your favorites?
A: One of my favorites is “About Last Night.” “Ghost,” I like “Ghost.” I like Demi Moore. That’s one of my favorite actresses. I like “The Firm.” I wanted to go to the Cayman Islands because of “The Firm.” And actually went.
Q: Did you snorkel or scuba dive? Isn’t that what it’s famous for?
A: It is, but I’m not the adventurous type. I actually went on a little banana boat thing, and it flipped over. So I don’t even do the Jet Skis or anything like that.
Q: What’s a banana boat?
A: It’s a rubber boat that you get in and you hold on to this little handle. It’s connected to a speedboat. They just pull you around. The guy in the speedboat, he was just trying to have a little fun with a few of my friends, we were on it. I didn’t want to do it. I was like, OK, I’ll be a little adventurous. Somehow I knew I was going to fall off. I’m not an expert swimmer. I think I can swim to save my life, but the thought of being in the middle of an ocean just with a life vest on – I know it saves your life – but it’s frightening.
Q: Have you done any water sports since then?
A: No, I don’t do the water. I’ll sit back on the beach and veg out. That’s about it.
Q: Do you ever play any pick-up games?
A: I can’t do it anymore. It’s not in me anymore. I love teaching the game now. I’ll get in and do a possession here or there. But I’m done playing. My body’s just tired and my passion is elsewhere. So I just really try to figure out ways in which I can put my vision into other players, so they can kind of see what I saw when I played, through their eyes.
Q: What do you do to stay in shape?
A: I do the elliptical every morning.
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