Dawn Staley, head women’s basketball coach at the University of South Carolina, will take on Luigi “Geno” Auriemma, head coach at the University of Connecticut, for the women’s NCAA basketball championship on Sunday, April 6 at 3:00pm in Tampa Bay, Florida.
According to local historian Chuck Langerman, Staley, a four-time Olympic gold medalist, previously coached 1999 Cheltenham High graduate Stacey Smalls at Temple University. Smalls scored 1,258 points at Temple and is the only former Panther player, male or female, in school history to be inducted into the Philadelphia “Big 5 Hall of Fame.” She is pictured on the left guarding her former Temple coach in practice.
Auriemma, whose coaching career began at the former Bishop McDevitt High School (Wyncote), became the all-time leader in wins among college basketball coaches on both the men’s and women’s sides in 2024. He has won 11 national titles at UConn.
Fun Fact: Kathy Osler, Auriemma’s wife of 46 years, graduated from Cheltenham High School in 1972 and was a varsity cheerleader. They met during the first home basketball game of the 1972-1973 season via Kathy’s good friend and former Cheltenham High cheerleader, Robin Friedman (’72).
Sgt. Angela Dunston, 2006 Cheltenham High School graduate
On September 16, 2024, the Philadelphia Eagles honored Sgt. Dunston as a “Hometown Hero” of the U.S. Armed Forces during a 22-21 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.
Below is her profile from the Philadelphia Eagles program:
Sergeant First Class (SFC) Angela Dunston is a decorated Noncommissioned Officer in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, SFC Dunston graduated from Cheltenham High School before briefly attending Morgan State University. Searching for a meaningful career, she enlisted in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard in 2008 as a Human Resources Specialist.
After completing Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, SFC Dunston was assigned to the historic 103rd Engineer Battalion where she played an active role apart of the CBRNE Enhanced Response Force Package (CERF-P), serving on the Search and Extraction Team, where her expertise was vital in handling emergency response operations on the East Coast. In 2011, she deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom with the 131st Transportation Company, tasked with route security to ensure the safe movement of personnel and supplies in RC East. Her operational excellence led her to join the 213th Personnel Group, deploying once again in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve, leading a team in flight line operations in Mihail Kogalniceanu, Romania. She deployed again in 2019 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (Spartan Shield) to the Middle East for Military Base Operations.
SFC Dunston’s leadership extended beyond deployments. She served with the 252nd Quartermaster Company, leading her team through several critical state activations and ensuring mission completion serving as Licensing Instructor, Squad Leader and Heavy Vehicle Trainer. From disaster relief efforts to homeland security tasks, responding to natural disasters, providing logistical support during state emergencies, or managing complex supply chain operations, SFC Dunston consistently ensured her team’s readiness and operational success.
SFC Dunston’s career transitioned into recruiting when she took on the role of recruiter for the West Chester University ROTC program. Her dedication to mentoring future leaders and Soldiers has since become a hallmark of her service. Today, as one of the top recruiters in Pennsylvania, SFC Dunston draws on her own military experiences to help young men and women realize their potential within the National Guard. Her ability to inspire others, combined with her professionalism and leadership, has earned her widespread respect throughout the recruiting community.
In addition to her role as a recruiter, SFC Dunston serves as an Equal Opportunity Representative, ensuring that every Soldier is treated with fairness and respect. She advocates for equal opportunities and encourages others to uphold the same values of integrity, inclusion, and respect. SFC Dunston holds a Bachelor’s degree in Labor Relations from Penn State University. Her ultimate goal is to attend Law School and practice employment law to represent the unrepresented. Her numerous awards and decorations—include the Army Achievement Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with “M” Device, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NATO Medal, PA National Guard Gen. Thomas J. Stewart Award, and PA National Guard Thomas R. White Award—a testament to her exemplary service and steadfast dedication to both the mission and her Soldiers.
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