Billie Moore dies at 79. She was a trailblazing Hall-of-Fame U.S. Olympics & UCLA coach.
Billie Moore was a pioneer in women’s basketball and died Wednesday night from cancer. according to the Los Angeles Times. She was 79.
Moore coached two collegiate teams to national championships during her 24-year career – Cal State Fullerton in 1970 and UCLA in 1978 – to become the first coach in women’s basketball history to lead two different schools to titles. She also coached her teams to the Final Four in 1970 and 1972, 1975, 1978, 1979, and 1975. She ended her tenure with a 436-196 win-loss record.
After serving as an assistant coach at the Pan American Games and the World University Games, Moscow in 1975, Moore became the first U.S. women’s Olympic basketball team head coach in 1976. Moore’s Olympic team won silver in Montreal with a team featuring Pat Summitt (a Tennessee legend who went on to be one of the most successful women basketball coaches of all-time and was also inducted into the Hall of Fame).
Lusia Harris and Nancy Lieberman were also Hall-of-Famers that played for Moore in the U.S. Team. And Ann Meyers Drysdale.
Meyers Drysdale described John Wooden as “Our John Wooden”, in a tribute to the legendary coach. “She truly has been a gift to us in the women’s game.”
Jackie Joyner-Kersee was a UCLA track and field player who won three golds, one bronze and one silver medals at the various Summer Olympics. She also expressed her gratitude to Moore to the Times.
“I will forever be grateful and thankful for her friendship beyond the basketball court,” Joyner-Kersee said. “Billie gave me an opportunity to pursue my dream of becoming a Bruin.”
Moore’s death was mourned by Lieberman, as well as Dawn Staley (South Carolina women’s basketball coach).