𝐵𝑅𝐸𝐴𝑘𝐼𝑁𝑔: Dawn Staley Announces New Assistant Coach for South Carolina Women’s Basketball

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina head coach *Dawn Staley* has added a major piece to her staff, officially hiring *Wendale Farrow* as an assistant coach.

Farrow brings a robust resume, with experience in the Big Ten, Pac‑12, and SEC, including multiple NCAA Tournament appearances and championship pedigree.

Staley commented, *“We struck gold in bringing Wendale into our Gamecock family … he is a seasoned, complete coach from Xs and Os to player development to recruiting to community service.”

Farrow joins the Gamecocks after recent stints including USC, UCLA, and Cal, where he has been part of elite coaching staffs and contributed to top-level programs.

This move is seen as a strong signal that South Carolina is continuing to build depth in its coaching bench as they aim for more national titles.

Gamecock Women's Basketball's New Assistant Coach | The Wendale Farrow Interview

Dawn Staley’s New Hire Explains Leaving Lindsay Gottlieb, Reveals First Conversation With Gamecocks HC

Dawn Staley hired Wendale Farrow as the new assistant coach for South Carolina’s women’s basketball team on April 18, 2025.

Farrow was an assistant coach to USC’s head coach, Lindsay Gottlieb, when he received the phone call from Staley. Before that, he had six years of assistant coaching experience, spending five with California and one with Vanderbilt.

Wendale Farrow Reveals Why He Left USC

In a recent conversation with South Carolina Sideline‘s Matt Dowell, Farrow went into the details of what fueled his decision to leave USC for South Carolina.

Farrow explained that working with Gottlieb was a rewarding and learning experience, but when Staley came calling, it was an offer too good to turn down. It was the right call to make not only for his portfolio but also for his future.

“When you look at the tradition of winning at the highest level, when you see that the leadership of Coach Staley has led to her other assistants going on to be head coaches, it is important for young coaches like myself,” Farrow said. “Also, when you have the opportunity to work with the best of the very best, I think you have to listen.”

Farrow replaced Winston Gandy, who left the Gamecocks to take on the head coach role at Grand Canyon. Interestingly, the Gamecocks will face Gandy’s team in their first game of the upcoming college basketball season on Nov. 3.

Their next matchup is against Bowling Green, coached by Fred Chmiel, another former assistant coach of Staley. In a recent media interview with WACH Fox 57, she had great things to say about both.

“I come from a program that has really established itself and has continued to do so, with great elite talent and a really, really good boss, and mentor, and friend in Lindsay Gottlieb,” Farrow further added. “I worked for Lindsay for a very long time, and I knew that if I could just have maybe one more person in my toolbox, on my resume to help me go forward, I think I had to try that out.”

Wendale Farrow Talks About First Conversation with Dawn Staley

Farrow’s first phone call with Staley began with disbelief and ended with some uncertainty. But all worked out at the end.

“I got a call from Coach Staley. I got a call from an 803 number. I’ve never had that,” Farrow laughed.

803 is the area code for South Carolina, and Farrow knew only one person, Dawn Staley, who would call from that region. Yet, he did not quite believe he was receiving a call from the legendary basketball player and coach.

“She called me and said, ‘Hey Dale, I’m looking to hire an assistant. I like to hire really, really good people. You’re a person on my short list, but I’d like to talk.”

Farrow did not give her an immediate answer, as he was busy with USC’s March Madness run, but promised to convene later. Staley went through the proper hiring channels to get him on board and even invited him to Columbia for a face-to-face meeting.

Farrow was highly impressed with South Carolina during the visit and admitted he was “overwhelmed” by the love showered on him by the student-athletes.

In the press release, Staley shared that they had “struck gold” by adding Farrow to the Gamecock family.