Close led UCLA to 10 wins in its last 12 games, turning a 9-9 team in late January into a contender for the Pac-12 championship.
Photo by: Don Liebig/UCLA Photography
Cori Close Awarded Media Pac-12 Coach of the Year
March 06, 2019 | Women's Basketball
SAN FRANCISCO – After leading the UCLA women's basketball team to a fourth-place finish in the Pac-12, The Michael Price Family UCLA Women's Head Basketball Coach Cori Close was recognized as the media Pac-12 Coach of the Year.
Close, in her eighth year at the helm, led UCLA (19-11, 12-6) to 10 wins in its last 12 games, turning a 9-9 team in late January into a contender for the Pac-12 championship. UCLA collected four road wins over ranked opponents, the most since 1980-81, and finished 7-2 on the road in Pac-12 play.
In addition to Close's recognition, sophomore Michaela Onyenwere was recognized by the media on the All-Pac-12 team, while redshirt freshman Lindsey Corsaro was named to the media All-Freshman team.
Close has mentored the Bruins to a remarkable turnaround. After the team started league play at 2-4, it closed out the season to claim a top-four seed in the Pac-12 Tournament for the fourth year in a row. During that span, the Bruins posted three wins over top-25 teams eventually entering the Associated Press' top 25 for the final two weeks of the regular season. Close is the second Bruin coach to win the media's coach of the year honor in the 10-year history. At 19-11 on the season and 12-6 in league play, the Bruins have posted at least 19 wins five years in a row and posted double-digit league wins four years in a row.
It is the 10th year of the Pac-12 media awards and are in addition to the conference awards voted on by the league coaches, which were announced on Tuesday. The panel includes local and national media members.
2019 Pac-12 Media All-Pac-12:
Kristine Anigwe, California; DiJonai Carrington, Stanford; Ruthy Hebard, Oregon; Borislava Hristova, Washington State; Megan Huff, Utah; Kianna Ibis, Arizona State; Sabrina Ionescu, Oregon; Aari McDonald, Arizona; Minyon Moore, USC; Michaela Onyenwere, UCLA; Mikayla Pivec, Oregon State; Satou Sabally, Oregon; Destiny Slocum, Oregon State; Alanna Smith, Stanford; Kiana Williams, Stanford.
2019 Media All-Defensive Team:
Kristine Anigwe, California; Aliyah Mazyck, USC; Aari McDonald, Arizona; Minyon Moore, USC; Alanna Smith, Stanford.
2019 Pac-12 Media All-Freshman Team:
Lindsey Corsaro, UCLA; Dre'Una Edwards, Utah; Dru Gylten, Utah; Lacie Hull, Stanford; Cate Reese, Arizona.
The 2019 Pac-12 Women's Basketball Tournament gets underway this week, March 7-10, heading to the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas for the first time. The winner claims the Conference's NCAA automatic bid. To follow the tournament with the latest news, notes, photos and videos, and to buy tickets, visit www.pac-12.com/womenstourney.
Close, in her eighth year at the helm, led UCLA (19-11, 12-6) to 10 wins in its last 12 games, turning a 9-9 team in late January into a contender for the Pac-12 championship. UCLA collected four road wins over ranked opponents, the most since 1980-81, and finished 7-2 on the road in Pac-12 play.
In addition to Close's recognition, sophomore Michaela Onyenwere was recognized by the media on the All-Pac-12 team, while redshirt freshman Lindsey Corsaro was named to the media All-Freshman team.
Close has mentored the Bruins to a remarkable turnaround. After the team started league play at 2-4, it closed out the season to claim a top-four seed in the Pac-12 Tournament for the fourth year in a row. During that span, the Bruins posted three wins over top-25 teams eventually entering the Associated Press' top 25 for the final two weeks of the regular season. Close is the second Bruin coach to win the media's coach of the year honor in the 10-year history. At 19-11 on the season and 12-6 in league play, the Bruins have posted at least 19 wins five years in a row and posted double-digit league wins four years in a row.
It is the 10th year of the Pac-12 media awards and are in addition to the conference awards voted on by the league coaches, which were announced on Tuesday. The panel includes local and national media members.
2019 Pac-12 Media All-Pac-12:
Kristine Anigwe, California; DiJonai Carrington, Stanford; Ruthy Hebard, Oregon; Borislava Hristova, Washington State; Megan Huff, Utah; Kianna Ibis, Arizona State; Sabrina Ionescu, Oregon; Aari McDonald, Arizona; Minyon Moore, USC; Michaela Onyenwere, UCLA; Mikayla Pivec, Oregon State; Satou Sabally, Oregon; Destiny Slocum, Oregon State; Alanna Smith, Stanford; Kiana Williams, Stanford.
2019 Media All-Defensive Team:
Kristine Anigwe, California; Aliyah Mazyck, USC; Aari McDonald, Arizona; Minyon Moore, USC; Alanna Smith, Stanford.
2019 Pac-12 Media All-Freshman Team:
Lindsey Corsaro, UCLA; Dre'Una Edwards, Utah; Dru Gylten, Utah; Lacie Hull, Stanford; Cate Reese, Arizona.
The 2019 Pac-12 Women's Basketball Tournament gets underway this week, March 7-10, heading to the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas for the first time. The winner claims the Conference's NCAA automatic bid. To follow the tournament with the latest news, notes, photos and videos, and to buy tickets, visit www.pac-12.com/womenstourney.
Players Mentioned
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