The UCLA Bruins women’s basketball program competes in the Big Ten Conference and plays in the Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles, California. The Bruins have had appearances in 21 NCAA tournaments, nine Sweet Sixteen, and two Elite Eight. The women’s basketball team is led by Cori Close who has entered her sixth season with the Bruins.
UCLA women’s basketball Head Coach 2025
Cori Close joined the UCLA Bruins in 2011 as the head coach and has entered her 14th season with the program. She has led the Bruins to nine NCAA Tournament appearances and holds an overall record of 297–140.
She became the most successful basketball coach in UCLA’s history after securing her 297th victory over Long Beach State on December 14, 2024. Under Close, UCLA made a run to the Sweet Sixteen for a second successive season during the 2023-24 season.
Cori Close’s Physical Attributes
| Age | 53 years old |
Cori Close’s Age
Cori Rashel Close, or Cori Close, is 53 years old as of January 2025. She was born on July 29, 1971, in Milpitas, California, United States.
UCLA women’s basketball Head Coach, year-by-year
The head coaches of UCLA basketball are as follows, year by year:
| Name | Years | Record |
| Billie Moore | 1982–1993 | 296–181 |
| Kathy Olivier | 1994–2008 | 232–208 |
| Nikki Fargas | 2009–2011 | 72–26 |
| Cori Close | 2011–present | 296–140 |
UCLA Women’s Basketball Coaching Staff 2025
The UCLA Bruins basketball team's coaching staff as of 2025 is listed below:
| Name | Title |
| Cori Close | Head Coach |
| Shannon LeBeauf | Associate Head Coach |
| Tasha Brown | Assistant Coach |
| Tony Newnan | Assistant Coach |
| Soh Matsuura | Assistant Coach |
| James Clark | Assistant Coach |
Associate Head Coach
Shannon LeBeauf has entered her 14th season with UNC after joining the program in 2011 as an assistant coach. During the 2019-20 campaign, she earned her promotion to associate head coach. Before joining Close’s coaching staff, LeBeauf had coaching stops at Duke, USC, and Iowa.
Assistant Coaches
Tasha Brown, Tony Newnan, Soh Matsuura, and James Clark are the four assistant coaches on the UNC women’s basketball coaching staff. Tasha Brown arrived in Los Angeles in 2018 and is in her seventh season with the program. Prior to his arrival at UNC, Brown spent four seasons as the head coach at Western Michigan University and also made stops at Cincinnati, Wisconsin, and Rice.
Tony Newnan joined Close’s coaching staff in the summer of 2011 and also serves as the program’s recruiting coordinator.
Soh Matsuura joined the USC coaching staff as a head manager in 2018 and gradually earned his promotion to assistant coach during the 2018-19 season.
James Clark joined the coaching staff in the summer of 2024 and brings in prior coaching experience from Drexel University, Wagner College, and Georgetown University.
UCLA women’s basketball support staff 2025
The UCLA Bruins women’s basketball team's support staff is listed below as of 2025:
| Name | Title |
| Pam Walker | Director Of Operations |
| Caren Nicdao | Director of Creative Content |
| Alex Edge | Executive Assistant to Women's Basketball |
| Ash Samaniego | Director, Women's Basketball Athletic Performance |
| Alexa Blatt | Associate Athletic Trainer |
| Delaney Smith | Performance Dietitian |
FAQs on UCLA Bruins
A. Cori Close is the head coach of UCLA Bruins Women’s basketball in 2025.
A. UCLA Bruins has had nine postseason appearances under Cori Close.
A. Shannon LeBeauf is the associate head coach of UCLA Bruins Women’s basketball.
A. Cori Close joined UCLA as head coach on April 21, 2011.
A. Tasha Brown, Tony Newnan, Soh Matsuura, and James Clark are the assistant coaches of the UCLA Women’s basketball program.
