In her ESPYs acceptance speech, Dawn Staley, head women’s basketball coach at South Carolina University, took full-court shots at pay equality. Staley won the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance for her advocacy work in the cancer research space.
“How do I not fight pay disparity when I do the same job and get paid less, but win more? They’re watching me; I can’t ask them to stand up for themselves if I’m sitting down,” said Staley.
Staley earned a salary of $3.1 million this year. She is the second-highest-paid women’s college basketball coach. However, her salary can’t compare to the highest-paid men’s college basketball coach, Bill Self, who takes in $9.6 million.
According to USA Today, there are 18 women’s basketball coaches who earn a salary greater than $1 million or more. There are 71 men’s coaches who make as much money.
“How do I not fight injustice when I ask them to do things the right way. How do I not ask for fairness when I ask them not to cheat themselves, not to cut corners? How do I not fight for equity when I tell them they can climb as high as they want, they can be all they want,” Staley’s acceptance speech continued.
Staley and South Carolina’s record beget her impressive salary. Her team completed a 38-0 season this year and won a second NCAA championship. Comparatively paid men’s coaches certainly can’t claim a record like that one. Not to mention, that the women’s NCAA march madness championships garnered more TV viewership than the men’s final game and any NBA contest in recent history.
This historic head coach is ready to fight the good fight not only for her team and her players, but for the future of women’s basketball coaches. “I try my best to do things in the right way, knowing that some little girl is out there watching me,” said Staley.
