Billie Moore was the head coach of the first US women’s basketball team to go to the Olympics. She was also the first coach to lead two schools to women’s basketball national championships. Moore passed away on Wednesday at the age of 79.
UCLA announced her death Thursday. She led the Bruins to a national title in 1978 and the Naismith Hall of Fame with the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women.
The UCLA athletic department said Moore had been battling multiple myeloma, a cancer of plasma cells that weakens the immune system. She died at her home in Fullerton, California, surrounded by family and friends.
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“Billie Moore was a pioneer as a head coach and among a very small group of individuals who laid the groundwork for where women’s basketball is today,” President and CEO of the Naismith Hall of Fame John L Doleva said. “Her impact on the basketball community knows no bounds and she will be missed by the entire Hall of Fame family.”
Moore was the head coach for women’s basketball at UCLA from 1977 to 1993. She holds the record for the most wins (296) in the program’s history.
Moore was the head coach of the first US women’s basketball team to go to the Olympics in 1976 before becoming a coach at UCLA. Moore led Team USA to a silver medal at the Montreal Summer Games. Some of the players on the team included Pat Summitt, Ann Meyers Drysdale, Lusia Harris and Nancy Lieberman.
Our Lady Vol basketball family mourns the loss of Billie Moore, a legend in our game who operated with class and served as a great mentor and role model to so many. We will always be grateful for Coach Moore’s influence on Pat Summitt and on our entire program. pic.twitter.com/c38yaM7NCT
— Kellie Harper (@KellieHarper) December 15, 2022
Moore was born in Westmoreland, Kansas. In 1970, he led Cal State Fullerton to the national championship. She was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame and the Naismith Hall of Fame in 1999.
“One of the things I thought about when I got the call was being inducted into coaching a team sport,” she said at her inauguration. “And if you’re in a team sport, you’re not here because of something you did yourself. It is clear that this award is shared with many people who have played a very important role over the years, and it belongs to many people.”
She said she loved and cared about the game because of her father. She told the audience that she had hoped her career would be based not on the number of games she won or lost, but on the friends she made on the field and keep them for life.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Billie Moore’s family. She was a pioneer in women’s basketball and served the game with generosity, passion and grace. We honor her life and legacy and recognize her tremendous impact on the LA community, American basketball and the growth of women’s sports. pic.twitter.com/Utmp8fdG2A
— Los Angeles Sparks (@LASparks) December 15, 2022
Moore’s overall college record was 436-196, which is a .690 winning percentage. Danielle Donehew, the head of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association, said Moore was a giant who paved the way for other female coaches.
“Most importantly, Billie was a teacher who continued to share her wisdom with former student-athletes and colleagues like Pat Summitt, her mentee, long after Billie retired as a coach,” she said.
“I met Billie while working for Pat and will forever cherish her wisdom and humor. Billie’s impact on our sport survives her through the many lives, including mine, she has touched.
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