COLUMBIA - With talent like this on South Carolina’s bench, the Gamecock women’s basketball team has a lot to live up to.

New Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley added her three assistant coaches Tuesday, including former Tennessee standouts — and Staley’s Olympic teammates — Nikki McCray and Carla McGhee.

Lisa Boyer, part of Staley’s staff at Temple the past six years, followed her boss to South Carolina.

Staley, McCray and McGhee were all part of the U.S. women’s team that won Olympic gold in Atlanta in 1996. Staley and McCray successfully defended that gold medal four years later in Sydney.

McCray was among the best in women’s college basketball at Tennessee, twice winning the Southeastern Conference’s player of the year (1994 and 1995). The Lady Vols went 122-11 during McCray’s four years, earning three SEC regular-season titles.

She went on to play nine seasons in the WNBA, and was selected to the league’s all-star game three times, before retiring in 2006.

“Nikki brings a wealth of energy and basketball knowledge to the bench,” Staley said. “She played at the highest level in college and the Olympics and had a storied WNBA career. She will be a tremendous asset to our team.”

McGhee helped the Lady Vols win a national title during her freshman year in 1987. During the offseason, McGhee was in a serious automobile accident. She suffered brain injuries, had numerous broken bones and was told she’d never play basketball again.

But after missing her sophomore season, McGhee was back as a junior and was part of another national championship for a Lady Vols team that went 35-2.

McGhee played in the ABL and WNBA, and overseas before going into coaching.

“Carla is extremely energetic,” Staley said. “She is someone who players, and people of all ages, enjoy being around. She loves basketball, and she loves young people. I am fortunate to have someone like her on the staff.”

Of course, Staley excelled at every level of basketball. She was twice named the Atlantic Coast Conference’s player of the year at Virginia, then became a five-time WNBA all-star.

Boyer’s experience is on the bench. She was Bradley’s head coach from 1986-96. In the past six seasons, Boyer has helped Temple and Staley win four Atlantic 10 Conference tournament titles. The Owls made the NCAA tournament each of those seasons.

Staley says Boyer’s experience and coaching ability will be invaluable. “I trust her with my life,” Staley said. “In this business, you want to have someone with you that has your back, your front and your sides. Lisa does all that, and I would not coach this game without her on the bench with me.”

South Carolina has not reached the NCAA tournament since 2003. The Gamecocks have gone 20-60 in Southeastern Conference play the past five seasons.

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