South Carolina women’s basketball head coach Dawn Staley announced today that veteran coach Melanie Balcomb will join the Gamecocks’ staff as director of coaching offensive analytics for the 2016-17 season. The addition of Balcomb, who brings 22 years of head coaching experience, including 13 in the SEC, will assist the staff in developing strategies for growing the game of women’s basketball and providing analytical data pertaining to on-court performance.

“Someone with Melanie’s experience and success is an asset to the game of women’s basketball, and this is a great opportunity for our program to benefit from her point of view,” Staley said. “I have and will always treasure the close-knit staff that we have, most of whom have been here from the beginning, but there is always room to grow professionally. Our staff looks forward to Melanie sharing her insights.”

Coming off South Carolina’s third-straight SEC regular-season title, Staley is as committed as ever to ensuring her program’s continued success. In addition to her many USA Basketball coaching assignments the last few years, which include serving as an assistant coach in this summer’s Olympics in Rio, she spent several weeks this spring traveling to WNBA training camps and practices to ensure she is providing her team the best opportunity for success.

“I’m honored to serve a program that dominates on the court with integrity and class,” Balcomb said. “I’m excited for the opportunity to experience success and growth while assisting South Carolina in realizing the dream of a national championship. I am grateful to Dawn and ready to be part of Gamecock Nation.”

Balcomb spent the last 13 seasons as the head coach of the Vanderbilt women’s program, leading the Commodores to a 340-149 record and 12 straight NCAA Tournament appearances (2003-14). She claimed three SEC Tournament titles and four NCAA Sweet 16 appearances while coaching nine WNBA Draft picks. Her head coaching expertise will further assist the staff during Staley’s time with USA Basketball this summer.

http://www.gamecocksonline.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/071116aaa.html

 

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