UCLA Basketball: Cori Close wins Pac-12 Media Coach of the Year Award

After an outstanding run in conference play, UCLA basketball head coach Cori Close has won the Pac-12 Media Coach of the Year Award.

The UCLA basketball women’s team was not expected to make an impact this season, but no one told that to head coach Cori Close who just won the Pac-12 Media Coach of the Year Award.

RELATED: UCLA Basketball – Onyenwere, Burke, and Corsaro Make All-Pac-12 Teams

The Bruins had an amazing run in the Pac-12 after a less than stellar 7-5 start in non-conference play. Since then, they have gone 12-6 and landed themselves in the fourth spot in the standings, clinching a first-round bye in the Pac-12 Tournament.

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Despite the slow start, Close and her team never wavered and kept fighting in each contest they played especially down the stretch. In the last 12 games, the Bruins have won 10. They have had a 7-2 road conference record. They have defeated five ranked teams, four of them in conference and three of those on the road which included an exuberant win at #2 Oregon.

Close has also done a fabulous job of developing her players. Yesterday, three of them were honored with All-Pac-12 nominations. Michaela Onyenwere made the All-Pac-12 Team, Kennedy Burke made the All-Defensive Team as well as received a nod as All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention, and Lindsay Corsaro was part of the All-Freshman Team.

All of this has set the Bruins on a path to success which they are carrying into the postseason at just the right time.

The Bruins start the Pac-12 Tournament on Friday at 11:30 a.m. PT as they will take on the winner of the #5 ASU/#12 Colorado first-round game. Though UCLA should have already built up a nice resume to get into the NCAA Tournament, a deep run in the conference tourney could boost their profile.

Go Bruins and congratulations, coach!