The UCLA women's basketball team has been a well-oiled machine this season en route to a Big Ten Tournament Championship and the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. Cori Close is having her best season yet as the head coach for the Bruins, and with a win on Friday, she can advance to her first Elite 8 since 2018 and have a chance to make her first Final Four.
UCLA is still searching for its first Final Four and National Championship appearance as a program under Close, but the team has been honored in other ways this season. Assistant coach Tony Newnan was given an award by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association earlier this week, and coach Close had a nice message for her staff member.
Cori Close has message for UCLA assistant award winning coveted award
Newnan was given the WBCA Assistant Coach of the Year Award on Wednesday, which is given annually to the top assistant coach at every level of college basketball. Coach Close responded to the news with a strong message for her underling.
"This is so awesome," wrote coach Close in a post on X. "You are such a gift to UCLA women's basketball!"
He has been a prominent part of the program for over a decade, as he first joined the Bruins' staff in 2011. In addition to his coaching duties, he has served as the international recruiting coordinator, bringing in players from all over the world to join the UCLA women's basketball program. This includes players like Elina Aarnisalo and Lina Sontag.
The Bruins will play LSU on Sunday in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. If they can defeat the upset-hungry Tigers, they'll advance to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament.