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South Carolina women's basketball losing assistant to head coaching opportunity

On3 imageby: Collyn Taylor04/08/23collyntaylor
South Carolina assistant coach Fred Chmiel during a national championship parade
Fred Chmiel (Katie Dugan/GamecockCentral)

For the first time in a while, Dawn Staley will have to replace one of South Carolina’s assistant coaches, this time Fred Chmiel. 

Chmiel is heading to Bowling Green as the Falcons’ new head women’s basketball coach, the school announced Saturday. 

Chmiel had been with the Gamecocks for the last 10 seasons, a pivotal assistant as Dawn Staley built the program into a powerhouse in the sport. 

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Over that time the Gamecocks went 247-32 and 116-12 in the SEC with a pair of national titles. Chmiel was part of five regular season SEC title teams and six SEC Tournament titles. 

“When looking for qualified head coach candidates, you look at individuals who have been around great mentors, teachers, and leaders,” Bowling Green athletics directory Derek van der Merwe said in a statement. “You look at people who have had powerful and transformational experiences. Fred Chmiel has served and learned from the best coaches and student-athletes. He has had a long career in women’s basketball and has been part of 15 NCAA Tournament appearances. He coached his coach, Dawn Staley, in the WNBA. He has patiently waited for his opportunity. It is time for his to be a part of the championship culture we are building and Bowling Green State University.” 

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Chmiel wsa part of the staff that recruited the historic 2019 class that included Aliyah Boston, Zia Cooke, Brea Beal and Laeticia Amihere. 

He coached with Staley at three different spots, an assistant with her at Temple and in the WNBA before coming to South Carolina. 

He’s also been an assistant at San Diego State, Penn State and most recently Minnesota before coming to coach with the Gamecocks. 

“Fred Chimel is the perfect person for Bowling Green. I have had the privilege of coaching with Fred both at Temple and South Carolina and his contributions have proven to be invaluable. He is a student of the game who will continue the success of the Falcons,” Dawn Staley said in a statement. 

“Fred is results oriented and will be an ambassador for the University in the community. He is an outstanding floor coach and relentless recruiter. With Fred at the helm of the Falcons program he will create an infectious culture that will create a home court advantage at the Stroh Center every night.”

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The Gamecocks are coming off an undefeated regular season that ended earlier than expected in a Final Four loss to the Iowa Hawkeyes. 

The last time South Carolina and Dawn Staley needed to replace an assistant was after the 2017 season when Nikki McGray left for her own head coaching gig at Old Dominion.

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