At her inaugural Final Four press conference on Thursday in Tampa, Florida, UCLA's women’s basketball coach Cori Close recounted several tales of her proximity to various occasions. UConn program And over the years, its players have cultivated a strong rapport and deep admiration for the Huskies.
Once her speech concluded, she kept conversing with several journalists and acknowledged that her strong connections to UConn extend beyond just the Huskies' basketball team.
A year following her appointment as the head coach for UCLA during the 2011-12 campaign, she currently serves as UConn football Coach Jim Mora was appointed as the UCLA Bruins' football coach.
Mora served as the UCLA head coach from 2012 through 2017.
As Close was still honing her skills and starting to guide the Bruins towards the prominence they've achieved this season as a consistent top-four squad—having held the No. 1 ranking longer than any other team—it meant a lot to her that Mora backed her up.
He was one of my friends from UCLA," Close stated. "Our offices were directly next to each other since their backs faced each other. Plus, we always kept better treats. That’s why he used to stop by frequently.
They shared more than just sweets. Close valued that Mora, a renowned and respected football coach, genuinely cared about the success of the women’s program.
I have traveled multiple times with Football, and he has been someone I frequently visited," Close stated. "He used to interact with our prospects. When he was at UCLA, he became a true friend of mine, and his supportive role has persisted even during his time at UConn.
(Chris Dailey, UConn's associate head coach, has mentioned to me that he has approached her multiple times and spoken with them regarding my involvement. Therefore, I am grateful for having someone significant in football who truly cares about other sports, particularly women's basketball.)
