Struggle and Joy: the Cori Close method

Head coach Cori Close of the UCLA Bruins points on the sideline during an NCAA basketball game against the Purdue Boilermakers, Wednesday January 21, 2026 in Los Angeles, Calif. PHOENIX - Cori Close is someone who knows when to uplift and when to push. It's that balance that's made Close the most successful head coach in UCLA women's basketball history with over 350 wins to her name and still counting.

This season especially, as the Bruins enter the Final Four and chase a national championship, it's been joy and fulfillment that's been on the forefront of Close's mind. She's one of the most media visible coaches in women's college basketball today, scarcely turning down a talk show or podcast appearance and using her platform to continually elevate not just her team, but women's basketball as a whole. Her postgame conferences read like a motivational seminar, rife with aphorisms about standards, principles and commitment.

Head coach Cori Close of the UCLA Bruins claps on the sideline during an NCAA basketball game against the Purdue Boilermakers, Wednesday January 21, 2026 in Los Angeles, Calif. Jordan Teller - The Sporting Tribune Head coach Cori Close of the UCLA Bruins claps on the sideline during an NCAA basketball game against the Purdue Boilermakers, Wednesday January 21, 2026 in Los Angeles, Calif. But, as joyous as Close is, she's also someone who's unafraid to bring the hammer down.

In practices, she's laser focused on improvement. Should a play go wrong and the effort isn't to her liking, the Bruins can expect wall sits or baseline sprints in their future, all while Close is still making speeches about growth or excellence, though in a decidedly different tone. Pushing for the best "She just wants the best from you and she knows what your goals are and what it takes to get there," senior forward Timea Gardiner said.