UCLA coach given national honor
By Daily Bruin Staff
April 3, 2002 9:00 p.m.
 Daily Bruin file photo Billie Moore wins
coach award
By Bruce Tran
Daily Bruin Contributor
John Wooden, Dean Smith, Red Auerbach and Margaret Wade. You can
now add former UCLA women’s basketball coach Billie Moore to
that list of recipients of the Naismith Outstanding Contribution to
Basketball award winners.
“It’s always an honor when people take the time to
pay attention,” Moore said. “To be in that kind of
company, the award has great meaning.”
The Atlanta Tipoff Club, which presents the Naismith Awards,
uses a panel of sportswriters and Division I coaches to determine
the winner and has named Outstanding Contributors since 1982.
However, Moore is only the fourth women’s basketball coach to
be named, and the second Bruin on the list overall.
“She is one of the sport’s pioneers,” said
Jackie Bradford, President of the Atlanta Tipoff Club. “She
had high achievement in the early days of women’s basketball,
and she was a powerful figure in the development of sports in
general. Her accomplishments speak for themselves. She has set a
standard of excellence for years to come.”
Moore was unable to accept the award in Atlanta due to personal
reasons. Nevertheless, she remains one of the most distinguished
coaches, and the list of her former athletes reads like a
Who’s Who of women’s basketball, including Ann Meyers,
Denise Curry and Pat Summitt.
“Billie Moore has had more influence on my coaching career
than anyone,” said Summitt, who herself has won six national
championships with Tennessee. “She was my mentor, and
she’s had a huge impact on my coaching style.”
Moore compiled a 296-181 record in 16 seasons at UCLA, leading
the Bruins to a national championship in 1978. In addition to
coaching at UCLA and Cal State Fullerton, she has coached
internationally, including the first women’s Olympic
basketball team that won the silver medal in 1976.
“If there’s anything I miss about coaching,
it’s the teaching and the opportunity to deal with young
people,” Moore said. “When you finish coaching, and if
all you have are X championships and X number of wins, then
you’ve ignored a lot about coaching. Coaching is about the
fellowships and friendships you gain. And that’s what I
really miss.”
