Billie Moore, trailblazing Hall-of-Fame U.S. Olympics and UCLA coach, dies at 79
Billie Moore, a pioneer in women's basketball, died of cancer Wednesday night, according to the Los Angeles Times. She was 79.
Moore, a member of both the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, coached two collegiate teams to national championships during her 24-year career – Cal State Fullerton in 1970 and UCLA in 1978 – becoming the first women's basketball coach to do so. Her teams also made the Final Four in 1970, 1972, 1975, 1978 and 1979. She finished with a career win-loss record of 436-196.
Moore also became the first head coach of the U.S. women's Olympic basketball team in 1976 after she was an assistant coach for the national team at the Pan American Games in Mexico City and the World University Games in Moscow. Moore's Olympic team won the silver medal in Montreal with a team that featured another women's basketball icon: the late Pat Summitt, who went on to become one of the most successful women's basketball coaches of all time at Tennessee and also made the Hall of Fame.
Billie Moore and the 1976 Olympic women's basketball team set the foundation for women's basketball as it is today, and for women's sports as it is today. Keep Billie and her family in your thoughts. #restinpower https://t.co/IQ2qpZk2WN pic.twitter.com/ENPv5YAlEV
— Rachel Lenzi 💁🏻♀️😎 (@rachelmlenzi) December 15, 2022
Other Hall of Famers who played for Moore on the U.S. team included Lusia Harris, Nancy Lieberman and Ann Meyers Drysdale.
"Our John Wooden" is how Meyers Drysdale, described the legendary coach to the Times. “She truly has been a gift to us in the women’s game.”
Jackie Joyner-Kersee, who played for Moore at UCLA before she went on to win three gold, one silver and two bronze medals at various Summer Olympics in track and field, also explained her gratitude to her former coach 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.”
Other icons in the sport mourned the loss of Moore, including Lieberman as well as South Carolina women's basketball coach Dawn Staley.
We just lost an icon in the women's basketball world. #RIPBillieMoore @UCLAWBB @usabasketball @Hoophall
Love u always Billie— Nancy Lieberman (@NancyLieberman) December 15, 2022
Our great game sadly lost a legend today in Billie Moore…..thank you coach for servicing our game with class, dignity and purpose. May your soul rest with God. Godspeed to her family, friend, loved ones and the basketball community. 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
— dawnstaley (@dawnstaley) December 15, 2022
It is with immense sadness that we report the death of Billie Moore, a legendary basketball coach that graced Westwood with her presence.
Moore was surrounded by friends and family in her final hours.
📰: https://t.co/Sqq72bkPNq pic.twitter.com/kSvnb4LOGv— UCLA W. Basketball (@UCLAWBB) December 15, 2022
Our Lady Vol basketball family mourns the loss of Billie Moore, a legend in our game who operated with class and served as a wonderful mentor and role model to so many. We will always be grateful for Coach Moore’s impact on Pat Summitt as well as our entire program. pic.twitter.com/c38yaM7NCT
— Kellie Harper (@KellieHarper) December 15, 2022