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COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Dawn Staley walked onto South Carolina's campus Saturday and pledged to make women's basketball significant.
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The former WNBA All-Star and Olympic gold medalist was hired this week to take over a Gamecocks team that has struggled in the Southeastern Conference.
"My vision is to bring a national prominence to the University of South Carolina," Staley said.
Staley spoke before a packed meeting room at the school's basketball practice facility. It was her first public statement since she left Temple, where she had led the Owls to six NCAA appearances.
Staley succeeds Susan Walvius, who resigned last month after 11 seasons. Walvius led South Carolina to consecutive NCAA appearances in 2002 and 2003, but the past five seasons, her teams were 20-60 in regular season SEC play.
Just before Staley's introduction, university trustees approved her five-year contract, which will pay her at least $650,000 a year -- a base salary of $250,000, plus a personal services clause worth $400,000. Incentives could bring an additional $340,000.
The university also agreed to pay Staley's $500,000 buyout for leaving Temple, but she has to repay $375,000 of that over her time at South Carolina. Her contract with South Carolina, which runs through March 31, 2013, includes a buyout that would cost her $1.2 million if she were to leave the university within the first year.
Staley, a five-time WNBA All-Star, played on three gold-medal winning Olympic teams. She's part of the coaching staff for the Beijing Olympics.
Staley said she left Temple, in her hometown of Philadelphia, because she wanted the challenge of competing in the SEC against some of the nation's best coaches and teams.
She is the first black female coach hired by the university and the second black coach behind longtime track leader Curtis Frye.
The Gamecocks return only eight players, and Staley promises to rebuild as quickly as possible.
"I'm patient," she said. "But I'm not that patient."