Savannah St South Carolina Basketball (copy)

Dawn Staley's Gamecocks play Buffalo on Saturday in the women's NCAA Tournament. File/Sean Rayford/AP

COLUMBIA — Of course Dawn Staley's name would be mentioned for the open Virginia job. She’s the most cherished player in the history of UVA women's basketball and her name still carries a lot of weight in Charlottesville, Va.

But there was always going to be a lot of space between Virginia pursuing Dawn Staley to be its next head coach and Staley actually accepting, and there’s even further space now.

“No, I have no interest in Virginia,” Staley said Wednesday after reports surfaced saying Virginia would target her to succeed Joanne Boyle, who retired Tuesday due to a family matter.

That might not stop UVA athletic director Carla Williams from contacting Staley. But after the USC coach's statement Wednesday, plus her comments last week before the Gamecocks played (and then eliminated) Virginia in the NCAA Tournament, it seems Williams would be wasting her time.

Staley said before the Gamecocks played UVA that she didn’t have any Virginia gear after 25 years since she led the Cavaliers to the last of three straight Final Fours. She also said she didn’t have close relationships with many people there after coach Debbie Ryan stepped down in 2011.

Ryan coached Staley at Virginia and Staley was contacted about the job then, but never offered. She said then that she felt UVA was only reaching out to her to say that they did.

“A few years ago kind of left a sour taste in my mouth, so … ” Staley said Wednesday. 

There is the appeal of working for Williams, a former standout player at Georgia, and of going home. But as Staley alluded to, Virginia isn’t really home anymore. She’ll always appreciate the times she had there, but home is Philadelphia, where she was raised, and South Carolina, where she’s built something much more than a winning program.

Staley’s presence in the community and ability to make each and every fan feel like they’re part of her team has resulted in four straight years of leading the country in attendance. There would be no replicating that right away at Virginia, plus there would be the challenge of rebuilding a program — the Cavaliers made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament this year, but it was their first trip to the NCAAs since 2010.

Staley is one of the highest-paid coaches in the sport, making $1.45 million this year without bonuses. Her contract was extended through the 2024-25 season (where she’ll make $2.1 million) after winning the national championship last season, and if she were to leave USC this year, it would cost her $3.5 million.

The Gamecocks play Buffalo Saturday in Albany, N.Y., hoping to advance to their third Elite Eight in four years. Again, there is nothing to prevent Williams from talking to Staley about the UVA job when the season ends, but Staley seemed to make it clear on Wednesday that it would be a one-sided conversation.

Follow David Cloninger on Twitter @DCPandC.

From Rock Hill, S.C., David Cloninger covers Gamecock sports. He will not rest until he owns every great film and song ever recorded. Want the inside scoop on Gamecock athletics? Subscribe to Gamecocks Now.

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