UCLA Bruins head coach Cori Close earned the first Big Ten Coach of the Year in program history, with Close winning the award on Tuesday following UCLA’s perfect 18-0 record in conference play this season.
Close has led the Bruins to a 28-1 record this season, loading the UCLA roster with more than enough talent. Close has recruited top freshmen, brought in talent from overseas and retained her veteran core, putting the Bruins in national championship contention.
Last year Close won the Naismith Women’s College Coach of the Year but it was the USC Trojans’ Lindsay Gottlieb who won the Big Ten Coach of the Year, this time it’s Close who will bring the award back to Los Angeles.
Close and Gottlieb have led the way for a Pac-12 takeover of Big Ten women’s basketball. USC and UCLA each have a regular season championship in their first two years since joining the conference, with the Bruins seeking a second-straight Big Ten tournament championship.
Last season Close became the winningest coach in program history and she’s only added onto that total. Close is now 349-144 since taking over the Bruins in 2011, having reached the Sweet 16 seven times and the Final Four once.
Anything less than another trip back to the Final Four would be a letdown for Close and the Bruins, who have one of most complete rosters in college basketball. Close will see at least four of her players drafted into the WNBA this season, with some people believing that as many as six Bruins will be selected.
Close has earned personal awards for her efforts with UCLA but a national championship winner would have quite the ring for the longtime Bruin coach.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: Cori Close wins Big Ten Coach of the Year after 18-0 conference season
Reporting by Dylan McNeill, UCLA Wire / UCLA Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
