Cori Close, the Uncommon Coach

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Cori Close, the Uncommon Coach"
No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show
Release Date: November 30, 2023

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Introduction

In this episode of No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show, host Zena Keita engages in a profound conversation with Coach Corey Close of the UCLA Bruins. Known for her exemplary leadership and impressive 6-0 record in the PAC-12, Coach Close delves into her coaching philosophy, the evolving landscape of women's basketball, and the collaborative spirit of the PAC-12 conference.

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UCLA's Tradition of Excellence and Pride

[06:30]
Coach Close emphasizes the legacy of excellence at UCLA, highlighting how the university's storied history fosters a culture of elite performance and humility. She states, "Excellence and elite are the two words that always sort of well up in me." This commitment extends beyond athletics, encompassing academic achievements and community service, reinforcing the Bruins' prestigious reputation.

[07:34]
Zena Keita acknowledges how UCLA's environment elevates both players and coaches, fostering a tradition that enhances personal and professional growth. She remarks, "When you step into that sort of tradition, it really does elevate the way that you show up as a student athlete or a coach."

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Team Performance and Record

[08:11]
Discussing her team's impressive 6-0 start in the PAC-12, Coach Close remains humble yet proud. She notes, "I'm not the only one that's six zero," highlighting the collective effort behind the team's success. This undefeated streak underscores UCLA's dominance and strategic prowess within the conference.

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Navigating the Transfer Portal and Recruitment

[09:17]
Coach Close addresses the complexities of the modern transfer portal, describing it as a "non-traditional" aspect of recruitment. She shares her perspective: "What matters is, how do I lead a principled, centered program, how do I adjust as a leader and pivot to put our players in a chance to be successful at the highest levels." Her focus remains on maintaining the integrity and mission of the program amidst changing recruitment dynamics.

[11:32]
Reflecting on her long coaching career, Coach Close discusses how the transfer portal has added another layer to her responsibilities. She states, "Well, it definitely has given me another full-time job," emphasizing the need for balance between high school recruits and transfer players to build a cohesive and talented team.

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Leadership in a Changing Landscape

[10:55]
Coach Close emphasizes the importance of leading proactively in a shifting sports environment. She asserts, "My job is to lead in a way that's pro, that's principled, centered, that's mission-minded," highlighting her commitment to adapting leadership strategies without compromising the program's core values.

[13:51]
Discussing the integration of technology and human connection, Coach Close underscores the necessity of maintaining personal relationships despite the digital age. She mentions, "We need to learn to just have real connection and human relationships and that's not easy," advocating for a balanced approach between virtual communication and face-to-face interactions.

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Coaching Younger Players and Embracing Gen Z

[15:31]
With a roster comprising mostly freshmen and sophomores, Coach Close shares insights into coaching the digitally native Gen Z athletes. She explains, "The more we can explain the why and give them ownership of decisions, the more effective and the better the buy-in is going to be." This approach fosters autonomy and purpose among young players, preparing them for future challenges both on and off the court.

[18:26]
Highlighting the importance of authentic communication, Coach Close describes her strategy of balancing authority with empathy. She states, "At the top of my practice plans, every single one is to find the right balance of struggle and joy," ensuring that practices are both productive and fulfilling for her athletes.

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Personal Anecdotes and Inspirations

[20:24]
Coach Close shares her academic background in sociology, influenced by her father, a therapist. This foundation contributes to her empathetic and holistic coaching style. She reveals, "My dad was a therapist, so I'm a teacher and a coach, so I do come by it naturally."

[21:59]
Reflecting on her experiences with Team USA and college coaching, Coach Close discusses the differing approaches required in each setting. She emphasizes the significance of character and process, stating, "At UCLA, it's champions from the inside out. It's character over outcomes."

[24:45]
In a heartfelt moment, Coach Close recounts surviving the loss of her daughter while coaching Team USA, showcasing her resilience and the profound support from her players. She shares, "The kids came up to me and put their hands on my shoulders and said, 'That was for your dad.'"

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PAC-12: A Collaborative and Integrity-Driven Conference

[34:32]
Coach Close highlights the unique camaraderie within the PAC-12, emphasizing collective efforts to elevate women's basketball. She notes, "The amount of coaches that have been willing to take off their institutional hat and say, we are going to work together to raise the conference." This collaboration fosters a supportive environment, leading to lower transfer rates and heightened integrity across programs.

[35:57]
She further praises the PAC-12's commitment to positive recruiting practices, stating, "If you're going to cheat to get you, they're going to cheat to keep you," underscoring the conference's integrity and mutual respect among coaches.

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Closing Thoughts

[37:07]
As the conversation wraps up, Zena Keita commends Coach Close for her dedication and impactful leadership. She remarks, "It's clear that you're making it very, very hard for student athletes to choose between you... you're making it very, very hard for student athletes to choose between you."

[38:10]
Coach Close expresses her gratitude towards The Athletic for championing women's sports and acknowledges the platform it provides for growth and exposure. She concludes, "It's an honor for me to come alongside that end and appreciated about the commitment to women in sport that Athletic has shown."

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Key Takeaways

• Leadership with Integrity: Coach Close prioritizes principled leadership, balancing modern recruitment challenges with the program's core values.

• Embracing Change: Adapting to the digital age while maintaining personal connections is crucial for building a cohesive team.

• Collaborative Spirit: The PAC-12's unique collaboration among coaches fosters a supportive and integrity-driven environment, elevating the entire conference.

• Holistic Coaching: Emphasizing character development and personal growth, Coach Close prepares her athletes for success beyond the basketball court.

• Resilience and Support: Personal anecdotes illustrate the profound impact of supportive relationships within the team, highlighting the strength of community in overcoming challenges.

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Notable Quotes

• Coach Corey Close [06:30]: "Excellence and elite are the two words that always sort of well up in me."

• Coach Corey Close [09:17]: "What matters is, how do I lead a principled, centered program, how do I adjust as a leader and pivot to put our players in a chance to be successful at the highest levels."

• Coach Corey Close [15:31]: "The more we can explain the why and give them ownership of decisions, the more effective and the better the buy-in is going to be."

• Coach Corey Close [21:59]: "At UCLA, it's champions from the inside out. It's character over outcomes."

• Coach Corey Close [34:32]: "The amount of coaches that have been willing to take off their institutional hat and say, we are going to work together to raise the conference."

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This episode provides a deep dive into Coach Corey Close's visionary approach to women's basketball, her unwavering commitment to her players' development, and the powerful collaborative ethos of the PAC-12. Listeners gain valuable insights into the evolving dynamics of college sports and the essential balance between tradition and innovation.

Transcript

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[Zena Keda]

For the Athletic I'm Zena Ka and this is the Athletic Women's Basketball show presented by Michelob Ultra. Welcome back to the Athletic Women's Basketball Show. Appreciate our sponsor Michelob Ultra for keeping us going strong. Guys, NCAA season has just been absolutely divine. Everything you could have possibly wanted upsets, amazing breakout performances, all of the above. And I know there's one particular conference that has kept Us on our toes, and that is the PAC 12. They are having a great time just showing us what great talent is in that conference. And I got a special guest in the building. I know you guys are very excited to hear from this person. Coach Corey Close of the UCLA Bruins is in the building. Lady Bruins, how do you guys help?

[Coach Corey Close]

Thank you.

[Zena Keda]

Refer yourselves, of course. Thank you so much for joining us.

[Coach Corey Close]

Yeah, just the Bruins. You know, we can be lady Bruins. I don't really care either way. Just, you know, we're proud to rep the four letters.

[Zena Keda]

I love that. I absolutely love that. You know, I have gone to work and gone to school in grad school with people that went to ucla, and I do love the pride that the Bruins have in it. And you've coached at some schools with unreal pride. And I would love to see. Like I ask you, when you think about UCLA and the pride and what goes into representing those colors and those letters, what's been special about being on UCLA's campus for you?

[Coach Corey Close]

I think the thing I am so proud of is what we can offer in terms of excellence across the board. Excellence and elite are the two words that always sort of well up in me. That makes me so thankful to be associated. And it makes me better, I think, that that cross to our alumni network. That is the people who came before us, who blazed the trails. It's all the different coaches, it's the different sports. It's when you walk up and down Bruin Walk, the Olympic sprinters are on the track, all the NBA runs are here in the summertime. And you're watching the best of the best master their craft. And, you know, the list goes on and on. Then you're talking about Nobel Peace Prize winners and being the number one, you know, public institution. And then you're talking about the number one applied to university in the United States for five straight years. I mean, the. Just the list goes on and on. And. And there's just great humility. That. Man, I get to. I get to rep that and. And how we serve the community. I mean, it's everything. So I think excellence and elite are the two words that really, I latch on to, that I'm just very privileged to be a part of.

[Zena Keda]

Well, I know the organization within your university is like, all right, whenever we need a promo, please call Coach Close, because that is. That's amazing. I mean, it's true. When you really put it out like that, from an athletic perspective and an academic perspective, UCLA is really top tier. And I love the aspect of it Makes you better. Right. When you do step on those type of campuses and you step into that sort of tradition, it really does elevate the way that you show up as a student athlete or a coach or a student whatever it is. That's super cool. So I want to dive into your team because you're leading the PAC 12 right now. Six and oh, six zero. How does that feel?

[Coach Corey Close]

It's great, but I'm not the only one that's six zero. So that's the crazy part about it. Right. But yes, I'm very excited about that. That definitely sounds good. The alternative to that is not nearly as attractive.

[Zena Keda]

Okay. Perfectly fair. Perfectly fair. And I want to talk about your team because your team has been, I think, a great testimony to the transfer portal and being able to capitalize on the talent you already had on your team and then adding in some really star, like strong star power as well, to mix in really well with that. So I want to ask, with that good mix of transfers versus recruits, as a coach, what do you think about this new era of the transfer portal recruitment? Having to re recruit your players. Right. To have them come back and you've had two players that decided to stay on. Right. Which is really cool too is, you know, players deciding not to go on to the WNBA and stay one more year. That also is another level of recruitment and a testament to, you know, them loving their program.

[Coach Corey Close]

Well, in honest, I sort of. My answer is maybe non traditional. It really doesn't matter what I think. You know, there are pluses to it, there's minuses to it, but I have been charged to lead in the landscape in which we're given. And yeah, you know, there are aspects to all of it that I like. There's aspects to NIL that I really think are amazing, especially for women. Women are good at telling their stories. I don't think women in this age group have been encouraged to be entrepreneurs and to learn about investing in your brand this early in their lives. And so, you know, to be a part of that, part of the educational experience, I think is really cool. And then on the other hand, I think that pay for play really stinks. And I think it's, you know, it's not, I don't think the way it was intended. But honestly, in the end, just using NIL as the example, not even going into the transfer portal, which I have similar mixed feelings, is that it doesn't matter. What matters is, is how do I lead a principled, centered program, how do I adjust as a leader and Pivot to put our players in a chance to be successful at the highest levels. What does this new landscape require of me as a leader? And it really doesn't matter what I think about it. It's here and in. My job is to lead in a way that's pro, that's principled, centered, that's in mission minded and so that we're not able to compromise those things. And I think if you're reactionary, that's how you can erode the infrastructure of your program. And so I want to be proactive and I really want to be able to lead in the space and adjust so that I can feel really good about the educational experience that we're giving across all landscapes.

[Zena Keda]

No, that completely makes sense. Regardless of how you feel, you're going to have to adjust. And I love the way that you, I love the fact that you use that and you know, for, for context, you've been coaching a very long time. You graduated from UC Santa Barbara 1993 and you were already an assistant coach at your program that you graduated from in 95. So you went from being a student athlete to being a coach of, you know, there might have been players that you played with that you were coaching and helping out with. And so I'm curious as you talk about adjusting, how has this new landscape kind of adjusted the way that you recruit and you coach and how does that like impact that?

[Coach Corey Close]

Well, it definitely has given me another full time job. You know, I do think you alluded earlier about, you know, you have to re recruit your players all the time and you have to have a balance. I think about recruiting from the high school landscape and recruiting from the portal and I think there has to be a real proactive approach to that. But it is really difficult. I think the, it's always been a lifestyle and a calling, not a job, but now it's even more so. And that's what I'm trying to figure out. Just if my own personal life as a leader is how do I have, I don't know, balance is not the right word but the best kind of integration I possibly can between what my this is as a calling for me but also to be effective in it without having it be my whole life. Like I'm really I. Someone asked me in an interview yesterday how I use mental training and, and I, for me it is reminding myself basketball is what I do, it is not who I am. And, and so knowing that it is not my total identity, all of these new parts that you referred to, it is Hard to keep that in line. And I have to work at that, quite frankly. And so, you know, I think it's, it's definitely changed. It's dramatically different, you know, the exposure. Some of the things I'm thrilled that are different, you know, just in the last decade, I think we're experiencing an, an influx of exposure for women in sport across the world that we've never seen. And, and I'm just thrilled to be a part of that and I'm thrilled to try to help grow the sport, you know. And on the other hand, I'm like, dang you like that. I have to have all these rules that our players to get off their phones. And me too, you know, I say to our staff, like, we're not going to miss out on connection time. So no phones on team time. The only, only way that you can be on your phone is if you're posting or if you are, which also I have to adjust to the landscape, right? Or watching a game and because I want our players to watch more basketball. But outside of that, we need to learn to just have real connection and human relationships and that's not easy. So I think that's the biggest thing is how much has gone to an electronic virtual world as opposed to person to person contact. And, and I think we got to really fight to protect that. Not that you do away with some of the virtual and all that. I think you have to embrace that. But I think you can't let the real, just human interaction go by the wayside as well.

[Zena Keda]

I'll tell you, I wanted to give you credit because it's so important for the leader of an organization, regardless if it's a women's basketball team, if it's a corporation whome to be aware of that, right? And to keep that front of mind when you're coaching your assistant coaches, the people within your program and around your program that impact your student athletes, to have that sense of awareness of, you know, team time is team time and that's connection time. And you got to focus on that. But also not completely discounting the value of the social media and the electronic connection, because I think that that's probably one of the things that coaches that are from an earlier era, moving into this new era struggle in all realms, right? And not just women's basketball, but in any sport, just trying to adjust to, oh my gosh, the way I have to recruit, I have to follow players on Instagram like, this is crazy, you know, like. But I just want to give you kudos for that because as a leader, it is of a very visible brand, right. UCLA is a huge brand and being able to balance that is huge from a leadership perspective, so.

[Coach Corey Close]

Well, I appreciate that. I'm a work in progress, so.

[Zena Keda]

Hey, you're doing it, you're doing it. So. Okay, well, speaking of work in progress, I'm looking at your roster, I'm looking at your team and you got a lot of babies. That's what I like to call them. You got a lot of freshmen, right? You got a lot of baby little, little rookies, right? And you. But you've coached young players before on the team USA level and of course, obviously in your coaching career. I'm curious, working with these younger players that are the electronic focus type of generation, right? What has it taught you as a coach? What have they taught you and what have you learned about yourself in coaching this younger core?

[Coach Corey Close]

Yeah, seven out of 12 of our players are freshmen and sophomores, you know, and, and I think just learning and it's not, I think it's all the age group and for the most part, but you know, I think it really is a balance of, you know, I always tell them that I want to learn about you and how to be the most effective communicator for you, but you're not also going to always have control over who your boss is going to be and you also have to be willing to adjust to have because that's a skill you're going to need. And so I think it's a both and they've taught me that for instance, the whole age of do as I say, not as I do, they're not falling for that or there has to be a purpose. The more we can explain the why and give them ownership of decisions, the more effective and the better the buy in is going to be. You know, some of those are some of the younger things. I also think, you know, just fighting, not entitlement is a really dirty word and I don't mean it that way. I think we have to fight like, like that's all they've known is that you do X, Y and Z and you get all this stuff, you know, and I'm like, you know, that's gonna end and, and so helping them. That's why our core values are gratitude, lifestyle givers and growth mindset. Because I'm like, those are the skills they're gonna need after the ball goes flat. And so I think it's a, you know, a constantly going, how can I give them purpose? How can I give them ownership? How can I say, hey, this is what I'm thinking about when we're traveling. This is about what I'm thinking about doing in terms of how we're structuring even when we just went to the Cayman Islands, hey, we're going to do this clinic for some under resourced youth. When do you think it should fall in the trip? You know and coach Shannon, I have to give her credit. She on my, my associate head coach. She's very good. She'll send me articles about this generation and you know, how to reach them and she's been really good at, hey, just don't tell them after games it happened after we beat Yukon. She said don't, don't tell them what they learned. Ask them what are they most proud of from the game and what do they think we still need to address. And I think putting more and more of in their lap. And I give all the credit to coach Shannon for really pushing me to understand that at deeper levels.

[Zena Keda]

I think a lot about Gen Z from like a citizen perspective. Right. When you think about Gen Z and the way that they demand transparency and that's what you said, that and authenticity. Exactly. And as you said that I was like, yeah, that makes a lot of sense. I didn't play that long ago. I mean I'm a little old guys, don't worry. But I didn't play it that long ago. But trust me, my coach was not asking me when you think we're gonna do a clinic in the midst of a trip. Uh, you did the schedule and that was it. And so I just love that, that transparency, authenticity and autonomy that you've kind of given them in that. Right. But you're right, that is one of the biggest skills they're gonna have to learn is you're not gonna like everybody you work with, you're not gonna like everybody that you work for. It's gonna be important that you're able to adapt, adjust.

[Coach Corey Close]

Yeah.

[Zena Keda]

And you know, and communicate.

[Coach Corey Close]

I call it the healthy tension. I don't want our pendulum to swing to well, they get to just do whatever they want because we want to get buy in. I mean that's called manipulation really. But you know, so I don't want it to all go that way. But it's also at the same time I don't want it to be like, you know, this is why I said it. And so you just do it, you know, and this authoritative, you know, dictating kind of thing. And so. But I also think there's a time and A place for both sort of tones. And so I try. At the top of my practice plans, at the top of every single one is my job every day, is to find the right balance of struggle and joy. Struggle and joy. They both need to exist. So I don't want them to just. We're not a sorority. It's not funsy onesie like Kumbaya all the time. But at the same time, I also don't want to have a demeaning experience where we break their spirit. A former coach, and this is one of those great things about UCLA that I've learned from is Sue Enquist the most successful softball coach. And she's been incredible. But she says, how can you create a practice in an environment where it's the best, most productive, most purposeful part of every student athlete's day? And I asked myself, am I creating an environment where this is the best two hours of their day? I didn't say the most fun. I didn't say comfortable. But the best two hours of really productivity, purpose, conquering, you know, steam building, get learning to give to other people, making a group better because you're a part of it. How can I make those two hours the. The most productive two hours of their day? You know, and if you string those things together, I think it's really, really good. But I think there's a healthy tension that you got to be willing to walk in and to. You need to surround yourself with people that don't let the pendulum swing and their accountability for me as a leader that you don't let the pendulum swing too far one way or the other.

[Zena Keda]

Yeah. I'm starting to understand why your players came back. Makes sense. It makes sense. It makes sense. I'm curious, actually. What did you study in school?

[Coach Corey Close]

Sociology, actually.

[Zena Keda]

All right. Adjacent to psychology.

[Coach Corey Close]

My dad was a therapist, so I'm in. A teacher and a coach, so I do come by it naturally. And I was mentored by John Wooden for 15 years, so.

[Zena Keda]

Okay, there you are. Yeah.

[Coach Corey Close]

So it's a. It's sort of in me and just sort of oozes out because of the wonderful people I've been able to be around.

[Zena Keda]

That is amazing. I was an anthropology major. That's really the cousin to.

[Coach Corey Close]

Absolutely.

[Zena Keda]

But we just don't. We don't prescribe. We just observe.

[Coach Corey Close]

Right. So best players to ever play at ucla. Jordan Canada in the league now was an anthropology major. So you're in good company.

[Zena Keda]

Oh, I love Jordan. And yes, shout out to Jordan. She's been a great point guard. Out in la. Yes, very much so. All right, so I want to ask you about the healthy tension, but where you learned it from and from the context of, of coaching Team USA teams versus college teams. Because this is such an interesting. Yeah, exactly right. Like, of course, as a college team, you recruit who you want and you think from a perspective of who fits the UCLA or whatever college it is brand and ethos. Whereas Team USA is who represents the US Best. Right. In terms of talent. And there's a lot of different personalities, there's a lot of different goals. Right. As opposed to in college, you've got this one goal and you're recruiting to get to that. What would you say from your, your experience coaching Team USA youth and now college coaching? Like, what have you learned between those two different experiences?

[Coach Corey Close]

Well, there's some similarities and then there's some great differences like you referred to. The similarities are. One of the things I've taken really is how process oriented they are even in short periods of time, you know, they've won more gold medals than anybody else and, but they always talked about gold medal habits. And I was so fortunate. Carol Callan, you know, was. Is sort of the godmother of USA Basketball. She's now retired, but she was such an elite leader in that. And I remember it was during the pandemic and we were preparing and she got on a, she got us on a zoom with, with Gino Auriemma. And, and you know, and I asked him, you know, what are the keys?

[Zena Keda]

What.

[Coach Corey Close]

How do you, what are the keys to being really successful on this level with USA Basketball? And one of the things is, he said, don't try to do too many things. And, and I. And he meant that both practically. He says, you know, you're only going to have, you know, maybe 10 days to two weeks max of practice with your group. You didn't choose them. And if you pick too many things, you're going to be good at very few things. And so he said, you know, try to discipline yourself to have to just be good at, to conquer one thing that day at practice, just if you got better at one. We knew we were going to have some of the most talented, you know, players in the world in that age group, so don't try to do too much. And then secondly, just about gold medal habits, as I referred to. And I think that too, that my philosophy is so holistically oriented at ucla, it's champions from the inside out. It's character over, you know, outcomes. It's, you know, all of those different kinds of things. And you just don't have the kind of relational time they don't. I haven't earned the same kind of trust with those, you know, people at USA Basketball. They don't know me, they don't know if I'm legit. And so really I, I narrow my focus a little bit more. Hopefully I treat them really well. Hopefully I'm very, you know, kind as a teacher but also very demanding. But I'm, I'm not of the. That's the other thing that Gino said is you're not going to change anybody's life in that three week period of time, you know, and so hopefully we plant the right kinds of seeds of excellence and, and those kinds of things. But I think it is a really different approach. You know, everything is focused, character oriented and for teach, mentor and equip for after the ball goes flat at ucla. And I think it's a different kind of responsibility and opportunity when you're coaching for USA Basketball and both have great value. I just think they're. Because of the time that you're with each other, I just think that you're not able to do as much and I think that's just fine.

[Zena Keda]

As you mentioned that it makes me think of the best two hours of a player's day. You get really, really focused in what it is that you're trying to accomplish in that time.

[Coach Corey Close]

Well, and I really have to give so much credit to. I was actually a really crappy USA coach, if I'm being really blunt with you. And I survived that well, honestly, I worked with great ones. Joni Taylor and Aaron Johnston at South Dakota State were my two, the ones that coached with me. But my dad died while I was on the trip and so I was in survival mode to an extent. And so we were in our friendly games in Spain and it just happened really fast. And so, you know, I just, I have to just admit I don't want to take kudos that just aren't there is that I was surrounded by really good people. And honestly it's one of the reasons I bonded as much with Lauren Betts on that when I coached the U19s and obviously that she's here. That kid looked out for me every day. She's like, you okay? How you doing, coach? She would, you know, put her arms around me and her and Az Fudd when we won the gold medal, they. I'll never forget it. They came up to me and they put their hands on my shoulders and they're like, that was for your dad, and I didn't. I knew those kids because I recruited them, you know, earlier. But if you treat people well in recruiting, you never know. I had an opportunity then to. And believe me, Lauren was scared to death of me because she thought I was going to hold it against her that she went to Stanford because I was really close to her in the recruiting process and she didn't choose us, and that's okay. But I have so much gratitude for them, and I give them so much credit. Both the kids in which I had a chance to coach on that team, they were spectacular. And the staff in which I worked with Greg Callan, who ran the trip, this was so amazing. And it's one of those things in life that you're just better because of the people you surround yourself with. And I'm just very humble that I was with such an amazing group of people because that could have gone a lot of different ways. And because I was not at my best and I had really selfless people around me that put the mission above all, and they sort of carried me through that experience.

[Zena Keda]

I'm having a moment here. My dad passed recently in August, and so I know what you mean by people just.

[Coach Corey Close]

I'm sorry for your loss.

[Zena Keda]

Thank you. But I understand what you mean by survival mode where you're just trying to get through the day and you're trying to get through, you know, whatever it is. And, I mean, I could talk about our producer, Tanika, that helped me. I mean, we launched this podcast maybe a week after I learned. And so I know what you mean mean. So I. If there's ever any reason that you guys needed to love Az Fudd and Lauren Betts even more, like, there you go. That just gave me another. Just another notch of another reason to just love them and. And be just happy for them in general. But thank you for sharing that. I do appreciate that.

[Coach Corey Close]

Yeah, well, let me just play off of that. You know, really, the mission of our program here at UCLA came from a conversation about really what it means to use basketball as a way to love and impact people. And it was my fourth day on the job. I didn't have a staff hired and this alumni of Coach Wooden' and remember, I'd been mentored by Coach Wooden for a long time, but I'd never met this guy named John Valley. And he literally walks in and goes, I'm the dribble for the Cure guy. And he sits down in front of me and he goes, I've been married 38 years because of what Coach Wooden taught me. I've started three successful businesses because of what Coach Wooden taught me. I conquered cancer three times because of the strength Coach Wooden gave me. And then he really got me. He said, I survived the death of my 12 year old daughter because of the way Coach Wooden loved me. Me. And then he said, see you at Dribble for the Cure. Welcome back home to the family. Talk to you later. And he left. And then I ran over to the computer and I'm like, who is this guy? And I look him up and he didn't even mention that he was the starting guard on two of Coach Wooden's national championship teams. And he played seven years in the NBA because it paled in comparison to the man he became. And so it's like, you know what? That's, that's our mission is how many uncommon transformational experiences can we create? Like John Valley, how can we, in 10, 20, 30 years, kids go, matt, I am so glad I chose ucla. I'm the person, I'm doing this with, my life, I'm impacting others. The only two things that stay with you for the rest of your life from these four years, it's not raising banners, it's not rings. It's who you become and who you impact. And so I think raising banners and having rings are a byproduct of how well you do. That doesn't make you less competitive. It actually makes you you more. But, you know, in the end, what are you going to remember and what's going to really impact you? It's not going to be the raising of the banners. And as excited as I am for the opportunity to compete at the highest levels, that will never be the most fulfilling and most important part of my job.

[Zena Keda]

Man, that's beautiful. For those of you listening, you guys can't see, but right behind Coach Close is what she's referencing. Uncommon women making uncommon choices, yielding uncommon results. And, man, that I'm just like, mind blown. Folks, I'm just taking a moment right now to just let that sit. That's unreal. You've mentioned a lot of people throughout this podcast that you've just been grateful to and that you've learned from Coach Shannon, Coach Oremo, Coach Wooden, I'm just curious, is there anyone else that you think has truly impacted your career and the words that they've shared or, or, or things that they've done that just made you go, oh, I want to be like them?

[Coach Corey Close]

Well, you don't have enough time for all the people I've had You know. You know, that says it takes a village to raise a child. Well, it also takes a village to raise a coach. You know, I, I think that I have had, you know, my college coach and Mark French was spectacular. He's really the one that taught me how to use basketball for the sake of an Impacting people's hearts and lives and habits of excellence were his big thing. And then, you know, I worked with Kathy Olivier here, who gave. When I was, you know, 23 years old, and, and I just can't even believe the opportunity she gave me. But then, you know, I actually got out of whack. I. When I went back to Santa Barbara and coached, I. I just got out of balance. And I was like, how do I do this thing well and, and have a life? And God still hasn't brought me a husband yet. I'm waiting for that. But, you know, I wanted to. I wanted to be more than a coach, you know, and so I really didn't know how to do that. And coach Sue Sim Rao at Florida State helped me learn, like, what could that look like? And how to. To make some different choices. And in my time there. And so there's just so many people I grew up with a. In an environment. I had this village of people, and they're still, they still are involved at the. To this day, that our families sort of did life together, and our dads all taught at the same high school in Milpitas. We went to the same church. We lived in close proximity to each other, and all of us kids grew up together. I hear from most of them after every game, even now. And I just think about out at that time, no one was telling women, yeah, you can do that. Like, you know, but you know what my village was telling me that my village was saying, why not you? Why can't. Why not accomplish that? Why not be the first, you know, scholarship division one athlete out of that high school? Why not go do this? Why? You know, and I just didn't know. And, you know, and now I've been sort of an advocate on some gender equity fronts. And I'm like, I didn't even really know that gender equity was a problem until I went to college and later on, because was. I was raised by this group of people that just said, why not you go for it? What's holding you back? You know, And I just think, how lucky am I in an era where that was not the norm, that I didn't even realize that existed until much later because of the life that they breathed into me so I could go on and on. But I think I really am a product of people that have invested in my heart and invested in my vision from a very, very early age. And so I'm very, very, very grateful. And so I think in that you're never arrive at these positions on your own. And I'm definitely a product of a lot of people saying, you can do it. Why not you?

[Zena Keda]

Why not you? Why not be that uncommon woman that goes and yields uncommon results? I think it's a beautiful tradition that you've set up from what you've experienced from that village and what you do for your players. And I think coaches in general being able to invest in their players in that way, whenever players have that experience, it's really, really special. All right, so, Coach Close, I want to ask, what was your very first PAC12 win and what do you remember about it?

[Coach Corey Close]

My very first Pac 12 win, you know, at UCLA, I'm not even. I think that we had University of Washington, I think. But you could correct me, but the reality for me is, like, Honestly, my first Pac12 win was when I was sitting on a couch as a little kid in high school, watching every Pac 12 game, men or women, that I could, and imagining that maybe one day I could play or coach in that conference. Honestly, that was my biggest PAC12 win. And so everything that happened after that and the opportunity now that I get a chance to coach at UCLA, basketball Mecca in the Pac 12, like, incredible. And then when we first got to the PAC 12, it was like Tara Vandiver and the 11 dwarfs. And we, you know, it was just. We weren't very good. And then we got together and said, hey, how can we go from last to first in the Power 5 world? And then I got to be a part of doing that and building it up to be the number one women's basketball conference, arguably in the country, at least for several of the last years. And so I just. It's like, really a proud thing that I got to be a part of that journey. And especially with what we're seeing in the landscape right now, you know, I got the chance to see it and dream about it as a little girl, and now I'm getting the chance to. To. To live it as a coach. And how lucky am I?

[Zena Keda]

That's bigger than any score that you can remember, for sure.

[Coach Corey Close]

Amen to that.

[Zena Keda]

That's really special. That's really special. What do you think differentiates the PAC12 from any other conference in the country?

[Coach Corey Close]

Well, there's a Lot of great conferences. I. I think that the thing that has really been a trailblazing thing about Pac12 women's basketball is the amount of coaches that have been willing to take off their institutional hat and say, we are going to work together to raise the conf. And even more importantly, to raise the level of exposure for the game, to grow the game. And we have agreed to scheduling philosophies, we've agreed to build each other up, we've agreed to not negatively recruit. I mean, that's like unheard of in our competitive environment. And so I really think that has been the differentiator that has led to our level of excellence. And I think together we all achieve more is so, so true. And I think we have experienced that in PAC 12 women's basketball.

[Zena Keda]

I very much appreciate especially that, you know, the negative recruiting, because I experienced that. Right. Coaches talking crap about other coaches or other programs. And you don't want that, especially when you're going to play them, right. You're going to face against them. And these are people that were probably recruiting you closely. You don't want to have those experiences. So I very much appreciate that.

[Coach Corey Close]

Well, and I think if you're going to cheat to get you, they're going to cheat to keep you, and that means that you're not going to trust anything they say. And so I just think that's a really, really big integrity piece. And I think that's why our transfer rate out in the Pac 12 has been lower than any of the other Power 5 conferences.

[Zena Keda]

That's awesome. What will you miss most about coaching within the PAC12? I feel like you kind of alluded to some of these things, but you kind of summarize it.

[Coach Corey Close]

Yeah. I will miss most, most all the people behind the scenes that, you know, blaze the trail for us to walk in, whether it be production people or social media branding people, whether it be just people that were dreaming of what could the Pac12 women's basketball become. There's just so many people that have selflessly and sacrificially given to give us a platform that we could be the best on. And, you know, I just think that I will really miss being a part of those kinds of people. And I will really miss sort of the geographical, consistent rivalries. I just think, you know, those bring out really fun things and things that your fan bases can really, you know, get behind. And, you know, I'm excited for the new landscape of where we're going, but it will never diminish how special the landscape of the PAC 12 was for so many years, and. And I just am so grateful for the fans, the coaches, the players, the people behind the scenes that made it an elite experience.

[Zena Keda]

Well, Coach Close, I am so grateful to you for joining us on the Athletic Women's basketball podcast. What a wonderful conversation. It is very apparent that you care about not only your players, your program, but the game and coaching it the right way. And your record right now reflects that.

[Coach Corey Close]

Shout out to you. Thank you.

[Zena Keda]

The players are doing really well within the confines of that. And, you know, Lauren Betts has been beautiful to watch. It's really. It's really great to see her blossom and get the spotlight that she deserves and her play deserves and alongside her entire team. So I just wish you all the best of luck. I thank you again for joining us.

[Coach Corey Close]

Well, thank you so much for having us. And I'm a big fan of how the Athletic has really stepped up for women's sports, and I'm really a big fan of, specifically with women's basketball. They were really fighting to have more exposure before other people were. And so it's an honor for me to come alongside that end and appreciated about the commitment to women in sport that Athletic has shown.

[Zena Keda]

Hey, we're doing our job, folks. We're doing our job.

[Coach Corey Close]

There you go.

[Zena Keda]

Well, shout out to Coach Close for joining us today. It has just been a wonderful experience getting to know these coaches more, getting to know their philosophies more. It's clear that they're making it very, very hard for student athletes to choose between them, because, man, both of the coaches we've already talked to, I love their philosophies, I love their approaches. It's been clear that the evolution of the coach requires you to be more thoughtful and delicate in the way that you approach the game. So this is a great conversation. Thank you all for joining today. Keep us on the, like, loop. You know, who do you guys want us to talk to? Who do you guys want us to reach out to? We definitely want to keep having these guests, and I hope you guys are watching these games because they have been fun, they've been tight, they've been competitive so far, and the PAC12 particularly, is going to be heating up once the new year starts and conference play gets going. All right, appreciate you guys joining in. Make sure to tune in and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Zena Keda thanking you for tuning in and encouraging you to keep listening, keep learning, and keep loving the game, because that is the only way we're gonna grow it. Thank you.

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[Coach Corey Close]

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[Zena Keda]

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[Marc Maron]

Hey folks, it's Marc Maron from WTF. It's been more than 15 years now, and I'm still talking to all kinds of people in my garage every week. Sometimes sometimes it's Bill Burr, sometimes it's Ariana Grande. She just looks at me because she's always going like, dad, it's not that big a deal. Yeah, I go, sorry, I lost my temper. I go, I still love you. You know, Daddy has issues.

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Are you afraid of it?

[Marc Maron]

Of death?

[Coach Corey Close]

Well, I don't know.

[Marc Maron]

I think about it all the time.

[Zena Keda]

How are we here already?

[Marc Maron]

Listen to WTF with Marc Maron twice a week on your favorite podcast app. Or get more WTF with a WTF plus subscription. Just go to wtfpod.com and click on WTF.

[Coach Corey Close]

Acast helps creators launch, grow and monetize their podcasts everywhere. Acast.com.