Close is currently the Head Women’s Basketball Coach at UCLA.  She is in her 9th year at UCLA.  Under her guidance the Bruins have reached the Sweet 16 four straight years, and the Elite 8 for two years.  Close, who served on the Bruin coaching staff in 1994 and 1995, returned to Westwood after spending seven seasons as associate head coach at Florida State University. 

 

In addition to her on-court tasks at FSU, Close was also instrumental in recruiting (she coached four first-team All-ACC Freshman team selections and five players selected in the WNBA Draft while at FSU) while also working with the school’s marketing department in their efforts to promote the program.

 

Close joined the FSU staff after serving nine seasons (1995-2004), the last three as associate head coach, at her alma mater, UC Santa Barbara, class of 1993.  As UCSB’s player development coordinator, Close’s work led to such achievements as a 98 percent graduation rate, seven WNBA players, 15 professional players overseas, 12 Big West Conference MVPs, nine district All-Americans and one second-team All-American. 

 

As a player, Close was a four-year starting point guard at UC Santa Barbara and captained the 1992 and 1993 teams, which each advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. On April 30, 2005, Close was inducted into the UC Santa Barbara Athletics Hall of Fame.