SAN DIEGO — Fresh off leading UCLA to its first NCAA-era national championship, Bruins head women's basketball coach Cori Close will serve as a featured presenter at the 2026 USD Basketball Coaches Clinic, the USD men's and women's basketball programs announced on Wednesday afternoon. Close joins a distinguished lineup that includes Jeff Van Gundy, Seth Davis and hosts Blanche Alverson and JR Blount, set for Saturday, Aug. 1 at USD's Basketball Performance Center.

"I've been fortunate to know Cori since early in my own basketball journey, and I've been even more grateful to know her as a colleague throughout my coaching career," said USD head women's basketball coach Blanche Alverson. "She's one of the most respected leaders in women's basketball because of the way she develops people, leads with authenticity and invests in others. Her impact reaches far beyond wins and championships, and I'm excited for our coaching community to learn from someone who has inspired me for so many years."

In 15 seasons at the helm, Close has compiled a 358-144 (.713) record and established UCLA as one of the premier programs in women's college basketball. She guided the Bruins to their first NCAA-era national title in 2025-26, capping a season in which six graduating players were drafted by WNBA teams — setting records for most first-round picks (5) and most total draft picks (6) from a single institution in a single draft.

The national championship was the culmination of back-to-back historic seasons for Close and the Bruins. In 2024-25, she swept all four major National Coach of the Year honors — AP, Naismith, USBWA and WBCA — after leading UCLA to a 34-3 record and the program's first-ever Final Four appearance. Throughout her tenure, Close has developed some of the nation's top talent, with 23 student-athletes selected in the WNBA Draft, while leading the Bruins to nine NCAA Tournament appearances over the past 10 seasons.

Prior to taking over the UCLA program in 2011, Close spent 18 seasons as an NCAA assistant coach at UCLA, UC Santa Barbara and Florida State University. As a player, she was a four-year starting point guard at UC Santa Barbara, captaining the 1992 and 1993 teams to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. A 1993 All-Big West first-team selection and Conference Tournament MVP, Close was the first player in Gaucho history to record 1,000 points and 500 assists and was inducted into the UC Santa Barbara Athletics Hall of Fame in 2005.

"It is such an honor to partner with Blanche and the University of San Diego to help grow the game in Southern California," Close said. "We're all better when we work together, so I'm happy to take this opportunity to connect with our neighbors to the south. This event is an awesome way to live out our mission of serving others and I'm grateful to be a part of it!"

Hosted by USD head coaches JR Blount and Blanche Alverson, the clinic will take place inside USD's Basketball Performance Center — one of the premier basketball development facilities on the West Coast — giving coaches at every level the opportunity to learn, connect, and collaborate in a world-class setting.

Alongside Close, the 2026 clinic will feature Jeff Van Gundy, Seth Davis, Blanche Alverson and JR Blount, for a day focused on player development, leadership, culture and the evolving game.

EVENT DETAILS

• Date: Saturday, August 1, 2026
• Location: Basketball Performance Center | University of San Diego
• Admission: Free (advance registration required)
• Eligibility: Open to verified basketball coaches only. 
• Parking: Free parking is available in the Main Parking Structure on campus.

Note: Due to NCAA regulations, lunch will not be provided. Food will be available for purchase at on-campus dining locations.

Registration: CLICK HERE to register.