When you've just led your team to its first-ever NCAA championship, what's next? For UCLA women's basketball head coach Cori Close, the answer was simple: try her hand at football.
Fresh off cutting down the nets last month, Close traded the hardwood for the gridiron on Saturday, joining new UCLA football head coach Bob Chesney as a guest coach for the Bruins' Spring Game at the Rose Bowl. It was a natural extension of the mutual respect between the two coaches—Close has been one of Chesney's biggest supporters since his arrival in Westwood, praising his leadership at every turn.
Close wasn't alone in her football debut. Women's water polo head coach Adam Wright also stepped in to help coach the second half of the scrimmage. And it was Wright's team that emerged victorious, edging out a 24-17 win.
But here's where the story gets even better. Close may be a basketball legend, but she knew she needed some football expertise for the occasion. So she did what any savvy coach would do: she called up Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay for playcalling advice.
"That was really Coach Wright and Coach Close though that came up with some of those plays," Chesney said after the game. "They sent in two or three trick plays. I think Coach Close even called Coach McVay to help with some of the plays she wanted to run. She was reading me the texts he sent and we put some of those plays in."
It's a testament to Close's relentless drive—the same drive that transformed UCLA women's basketball from a competitive program into a national powerhouse. In her early years, she leaned on the legendary John Wooden for guidance. Now, she's paying it forward, offering that same support to Chesney as he looks to build a football juggernaut of his own.
"It was a ton of fun," Chesney said of Close's involvement. "For her to put on a headset and feel what it feels like with all those guys around... Having a behind-the-scenes look is something I would love to do at some point with the basketball team."
From NCAA titles to spring game sideline cameos, Cori Close continues to prove that great coaching transcends any one sport. And for fans of UCLA athletics—or just fans of great sports stories—it's a reminder that the best competitors never stop learning, no matter the field of play.