Staley to coach United States women's basketball national team through 2020

FIBA.com photo

Dawn Staley will be the head coach of the United States women's basketball national team through 2020, the USA Basketball website announced Friday.

Per the USAB website:

"Dawn Staley, head coach at the University of South Carolina, who has had a long and illustrious USA Basketball career that began as an athlete in 1989, and most recently as an assistant coach for the gold medalist 2016 U.S. Olympic Women’s Basketball Team, was today named head coach of the USA Basketball Women’s National Team through 2020."

Staley, who was most recently an assistant coach for the squad in the 2016 Rio Olympics, will succeed Geno Auriemma and handle the teams that shall compete in the 2018 FIBA World Championship and 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Staley will have plenty of weapons for the next four years, including regulars Elena Delle Donne, Breanna Stewart, Tina Charles, and Brittney Griner, to name a few.

Youngers players like Jewell Loyd, Odyssey Sims, and Stefanie Dolson will likewise get a chance to be part of Staley's teams in the future.

The South Carolina Gamecocks head coach was congratulated and given praise by her friends and colleagues in the industry.

Congrats @dawnstaley on being named Head Coach for the USA national team. Reppin those PG's!!! pic.twitter.com/mvmeqJuz6c

— Sue Bird (@S10Bird) March 10, 2017

I'm so proud of dawnstaley aka Lil Bit! From roommates to gold medals she's always been a great… https://t.co/ZkHdc6tZqV

— Lisa Leslie (@LisaLeslie) March 10, 2017

My SHERO!!! From the beginning to my end you've been by my side! Words can't express how proud I am of you @dawnstaley! You've taken me under your wings since the start- my intro to USA Ball in '96 to my last and final Olympics in '16. I don't know where time has gone but thank you for being a part of my journey and allowing me to witness your greatness!! Congrats for such an amazing honor! YOU deserve it 😍😍 Maybeeeeee... ill srick around for 1 more 🤔🤔🤔 LOL 😂😂😂 Nope but save me a seat just to support you 😘 Love ya always! #USABWNT @usabasketball @gamecockwbb @staley_dawn @staley05

A post shared by Catch Me If U Can 24 (@catchin24) on Mar 10, 2017 at 6:34pm PST

Whaaaaat whaattttttttttt!!! Congrats @dawnstaley for being named the 2020 USA Olympic Coach! 👏🏼👏🏼💁🏽 so deserving!

— stefanie Dolson (@bigmamastef) March 10, 2017

Huge congrats to @dawnstaley on being named the 2020 Olympic coach!!!! Can't wait to continue to work with you and represent USA 🇺🇸 #USABWNT pic.twitter.com/hi5LW1vOUA

— Breanna Stewart (@bre_stewart30) March 10, 2017