Tennessee Tech brings small gift for Dawn Staley’s dog ahead of NCAA Tournament
Dawn Staley’s dog, Champ, is just about as famous as Staley is.
Champ goes with Staley just about everywhere. He can be seen at practices, press conferences and is typically in the arena on game days.
So it made sense when he was up on the table at Staley’s second-round press conference last year in Colonial Life Arena. Staley joked at the time that Champ wouldn’t be taking questions from the media since the NCAA didn’t have a nameplate for him.
The moment went viral on Twitter.
Now, almost a year later and Champ finally got his nameplate, courtesy of Tennessee Tech head coach Kim Rosamond and her own two pups — Dolly and Dean.
Champ didn’t join Staley at the podium for Thursday’s pregame press conference, opting to sit behind the table instead. But Staley made sure to bring him up for a photo op with his placard after the press conference ended.
“I think, as dog lovers, I think they their pets come first, just like Champ,” Staley said through a smile. “...I think it was pretty cool gesture. I’ve known Kim for for a long time. She’s coached in this league, and I’m super happy for her and I’m over the top that she would extend such a nice gift to my boy.”
Dolly and Dean, unfortunately, didn’t make the trip with Tennessee Tech to Columbia.
“Due to their high demand media requests these days, Dolly and Dean will not be attending the press conference,” Rosamond joked Thursday. “They weren’t able to come to Columbia, so we are going to let Champ have his day. Dean was looking forward to marking his territory, but we’re going to let Champ have his day.”
While Rosamond and Staley’s dogs might not have much of a relationship, the coaches go way back and Rosamond said she has a “tremendous amount” of respect for South Carolina’s coach.
The two have some similar ties thanks to the SEC. Rosamond played for Ole Miss from 1993-1998 and watched Staley (who played at Virginia from 1988-1992) play college ball as a high schooler. Rosamond saw Staley and South Carolina’s rise first hand as an assistant at Vanderbilt from 2007-2016.
“What I love so much about what they’ve done now is, I think they’ve done it as well or better than anybody right now, taking modern day basketball, the speed, the size, the skill, the transfer portal, NIL ... but still blending it with the honor of the old school toughness and discipline,” Rosamond said. “I love the way their teams play. I love the way they honor the game. I love the way they respect the game. I love the way they respect the opponent.”
This story was originally published March 20, 2025 at 6:00 PM.
