Dawn Staley's parents and siblings, the family that raised her into a fierce competitor

Dawn Staley's parents and siblings, the family that raised her into a fierce competitor

My parents made me. My foundation is rooted in discipline. They gave me that.

Dawn spoke at a 2018 interview with ESPN, discussing how her parents provided her with structure in her life and career. Sadly, Dawn Staley's parents, Clarence and Estelle Staley, passed away a decade apart. The American coach and former basketball player grew up alongside her four older siblings; Anthony, Lawrence, and Eric, Tracey.

Dawn Staley posing indoors and at a football field
Dawn Staley posing in a black outfit and cap (L). The coach posing at a football field (R). Photo: @staley05 on Instagram (modified by author)
Source: UGC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Key takeaways

  • Dawn Staley's parents, Clarence and Estelle Staley, got married in the 1960s.
  • Clarence Staley passed away in 2006.
  • Her mother, Estelle, suffered a stroke in 2009 and died in August 2017 after battling Alzheimer's.
  • Dawn has three brothers, Anthony, Lawrence, and Eric, and one sister, Tracey.

Profile summary

Real name

Dawn Michelle Staley

Gender

Female

Date of birth

4 May 1970

Age

55 years (as of 2025)

Zodiac sign

Taurus

Place of birth

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Current residence

Columbia, South Carolina, United States

Nationality

American

Ethnicity

African-American

Religion

Christianity

Sexual orientation

Straight

Height in feet

5'6"

Height in centimetres

168

Weight in pounds

134

Weight in kilograms

61

Hair colour

Black

Eye colour

Brown

Father

Clarence Staley

Mother

Estelle Staley

Siblings

4

Relationship status

Dating

Partner

Lisa Boyer

School

Dobbins Technical High School, Philadelphia

University

University of Virginia

Professional

Coach, former basketball player

Net worth

$12 million

X (Twitter)

@dawnstaley

Instagram

@staley05

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Get to know Dawn Staley's parents

The former basketball player was born to Clarence and Estelle Staley on 4 May 1970 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. The couple met in the 1950s when they were teenagers, and they got married in the 1960s. Clarence and Estelle raised five children, including Dawn.

Clarence Staley

Dawn Staley's father, Clarence Staley, was from South Carolina. He moved to North Philadelphia in the 1950s with his then-girlfriend Estelle Staley as a teenager. Clarence worked as a carpenter, and he married Estelle in the 1960s.

The couple had five children and raised them within the Raymond Rosen Homes housing project. Speaking to ESPN, Dawn described the place:

People who didn't live there would look in, and think it was poor, and trashy.

Clarence played an essential role in Dawn's life and career, shaping her character and work ethic. He passed away in 2006 after a short illness.

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Estelle Staley

Dawn Staley posing with her family
Dawn Staley (L), posing with her sister (R), and mother Estelle Staley (C) indoors. Photo: @tracey.staleyunderwood on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: UGC

Estelle Staley, Dawn's mother, was born on 5 January 1943 in Orangeburg County, South Carolina. She relocated with her husband, Clarence, to North Philadelphia. Estelle was a homemaker who helped raise their five children.

Dawn was close to her mother and has credited her career success to her guidance. She feared and respected her. Speaking to ESPN, she said:

I feared my mother. She didn't spare the rod. I had parameters.

Estelle returned to South Carolina from Philadelphia when her daughter became head coach of the Gamecocks women's basketball team. She passed away on 10 August 2017 after suffering from Alzheimer's disease at the age of 74 years. Dawn spoke to ESPN in March 2018 stating:

My mother passed away seven months ago from Alzheimer's. They were her favourite flowers.

Meet Dawn Staley's siblings

The former basketball player has four older siblings. She has three brothers: Lawrence, Anthony, and Eric, and one sister, Tracey.

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Lawrence Staley is the older brother of Dawn Staley. He is married to Nena Staley, a deputy director at the Lee Correctional Institute in Bishopville, S.C.

Lawrence Staley and his wife Nena holding hands
Lawrence Staley (L) and his wife Nena (R) holding hands while posing at The Vault. Photo: @nena.staley on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: UGC

Anthony Staley is the second-born son of Clarence and Estelle Staley. He refers to living a private life.

Tracey Underwood is Dawn Staley's older sister. According to AP news, she was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2020. Dawn mobilised her family and community to help Tracey battle the disease.

Tracey's brother, Lawrence Staley, was a match, and he donated his stem cells; as a result, she has now fully recovered. Tracey lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, with her family.

Eric Staley is the youngest of Dawn's siblings. Like his brother Anthony, he prefers to keep his life private.

FAQs

  1. Who is Dawn Staley? She is the head coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team and a former basketball player.
  2. Who was Estelle Staley? Estelle is Dawn Staley's mother.
  3. Who is Dawn Staley's dad? Her dad is Clarence Staley.
  4. Where are Dawn Staley's parents from? They are from Orangeburg County, South Carolina, United States.
  5. What happened to Dawn Staley's parents? Her father passed away in 2006 after a short illness, while her mother passed away from Alzheimer's in August 2027.
  6. How many siblings does Dawn Staley have? The sports personality has four siblings: Lawrence, Anthony, Eric, and Tracey Staley.
  7. What happened to Tracey Staley Underwood? According to AP news, she was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2020 but has now recovered fully.

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Dawn Staley's parents, Clarence and Estelle Staley, were instrumental in laying the foundation of discipline and structure that guided her success as a basketball player and coach. Her four siblings continue to be a source of support in her life after her parents' passing.

Legit.ng published an article about Trevon Diggs’ parents. Trevon Diggs’ parents are Stephanie Diggs and the late Aron Diggs. They raised him in Maryland with strong family ties alongside his five siblings.

Aron Diggs Sr. introduced Trevon and his brothers to football before passing away in 2008. His mum Stephanie raised them single-handedly, setting them up for success.

Proofreading by Kola Muhammed, copy editor at Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Naomi Karina avatar

Naomi Karina (Lifestyle writer) Naomi Karina has been a digital content writer for more than two years. She joined the Legit team in August 2022. She graduated Bachelor of Commerce from KCA University in 2012. She also holds a Higher Diploma in Human Resources from the IHRM and a Diploma in Marketing from Kenyatta University. She is a content creator who enjoys writing about various topics such as biographies, entertainment and business. In 2023, Naomi finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. She expanded her skills in 2024 by undertaking the Google News Initiative course.

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