Darius Rucker roasts national sports pundit over Dawn Staley job take

Dawn Staley’s name has been linked to other coaching searches in recent years, but Darius Rucker wasn’t having it Thursday.

Rucker — the musician, USC alum and Gamecock super fan — responded to a tweet by CBS Sports analyst Seth Davis regarding a possible landing spot for the South Carolina women’s basketball coach.

Davis, via a social media post Thursday, suggested the Temple men’s basketball program should go after Staley to fill their vacancy. Aaron McKie stepped down as coach earlier this month.

“If Temple really wants to win basketball games it should turn the keys over to a Philly native who is a proven winner. Her name is Dawn Staley. Easy choice,” Davis tweeted.

“I think it’s a no brainer,” RZA Sports founder Ronnie Zeidel echoed.

Rucker, though, had a pointed response.

“U really think @dawnstaley wants to leave the Dynasty that she has built at @GamecockWBB. Wow. Awful take there,” Rucker tweeted back at Davis.

Staley is a native of Philadelphia, where Temple is located, and was the Owls women’s coach from 2000-08 before taking over at South Carolina. She led the Owls to six NCAA Tournament appearances and remains a popular figure in Philadelphia.

Staley has built South Carolina into one of the top women’s programs in the country. The Gamecocks are 34-0 this season and ranked No. 1 in the country. USC faces UCLA in the Sweet 16 in Greenville on Saturday.

The Gamecocks have two national championships under Staley and are heavy favorites to win another one this season.

Among the other Twitter responses to Davis’ comments:

• “Dawn doesn’t have to coach men to prove she’s one of the GOATs of coaching. She’s almost certainly out of the Owls’ budget at this point anyway.”

• “Why would she take the demotion from where she is now?”

• “So you’re saying a mid-tier men’s job is better than a top 5 women’s job?”

• “She’s making 3 million a year right now, she’s not getting that at Temple.”

• “Dawn would never leave Columbia for that job. Her next stop would only be an NBA gig.”

It wasn’t the first time Staley’s name has been mentioned for a men’s coaching job. She was linked to NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers job in 2021.

“I’ve talked to the Portland Trail Blazers, and that’s the extent of it,” Staley said during a Zoom call with reporters in 2021. “I’ve talked to them.”

She was also linked to the Virginia women’s basketball job in 2018.

Staley is under contract at USC through 2027-28. Her average annual salary is $3 million.