Bruins Nation: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:



Sports blogs for fans, by fans.
New Blog: Backing the Pack for NC State Fans!


Welcome To The Bruin Family Nikki Caldwell

Bumped. Welcome to the Bruin Nation Coach Caldwell. This sounds like a pretty exciting hire for our women's hoops program. GO BRUINS. -N

Nikki Caldwell has been hired as the new UCLA's women's basketball coach.

"Nikki embodies everything we were looking for in a head coach," said Petrina Long, senior associate athletic director. "She has worked with some of the best coaches in the history of women's basketball, and we look forward to her establishing her own reputation as a great head coach."

Caldwell, 35, is one of the brightest young assistants in the country who has spent the past six years as an assistant for Pat Summitt at Tennessee.

In her 14 seasons as a player and assistant coach, her teams have posted a 404-76 record.

She is known for her ability to recruit high-profile players and design game plans. In fact, Summitt credited Caldwell for much of the team's success at the recent Final Four.

When the Lady Vols defeated Louisiana State with a last-second basket in Sunday's semifinal, Summitt said it was Caldwell who convinced her to let 6-foot-4 forward Candace Parker dribble the ball up the floor and create the game-winning play. Caldwell also helped design the stifling defense that shut down Stanford's high-scoring offense in the championship game.

It looks like another great hire for the Bruins. No, she doesn't have head coaching experience, but she has worked for the best coach in the game today (men's or women's) and has every other qualification you could ask for.

It looks like we've got a coach who can take the women's basketball program to the lofty heights of every other program in Westwood. Welcome to the Bruin family Nikki.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of BruinsNation's (BN) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of BN's editors.

1 recs | Comment 7 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

WHOOO-HOOOO!!!
Excellent news!  Welcome to Westwood Coach Caldwell.  We're certainly looking forward to your long and illustrious tenure as a Bruin.

How exciting!  Thanks, Rye.

Love My Bruins

by Bruingirl83 on Apr 17, 2008 1:46 PM PDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Welcome!
Don't follow the women's team but I was hoping Caldwell would get the job over the Colorado coach.  I think this is a very, very good hire and I think she'll get this program to matter on a national level.  

by BlueReign on Apr 17, 2008 2:18 PM PDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Sounds like a terrific hire
Is this DG's hire? If so, it seems to raise his Batting Average and Slugging Average even more.

by Bruinut on Apr 17, 2008 4:25 PM PDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

new hire
Ms Caldwell has the background, experience, education, and pedigree and should do an excellent job as she learns SoCal hotbeds. Welcome and good luck

by stuin bruin on Apr 17, 2008 5:20 PM PDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

This is a smart hire
And I say this for two reasons.  First, it puts the program in the hands of someone who clearly has a great deal of potential as a head coach (finding proven head coaches at the women's D1 level is difficult), and automatic authority because of her tenure with Tennessee, and the support of Pat Summitt, who could very well be the best coach in college basketball (men's or women's) at the moment.

Second, if she turns out to be outstanding, the talent pool available in California could raise UCLA to the elite level, making this a long term hire, and making UCLA women's hoops, like men's hoops, a destination, rather than a way-station.

There are some big ifs in there, but in a world without guarantees I think this is a quality move.

Go Bruins!

by BruinSinceBirth on Apr 17, 2008 10:20 PM PDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

The Elephant In Our Living Room is
Out of the 100 National Championships 0 are in women's basketball.  Ouch.

Such a rich sports tradition and not a single NC in one of the most recognizable women's sports.

I have every confidence Nikki will turn this program around 180 degrees, win a few NC's and be a regular participant in the Final Four.

by Seanny Rotten on Apr 18, 2008 4:41 AM PDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

UCLA did win a championship
in women's BB in 1978, but, as you say, it isn't one of the 100. They played in the AIAW back then.

Still, it was a landmark season, and a huge boost to women's sports at UCLA. link

by Bruinut on Apr 18, 2008 7:30 AM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   1 recs

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

Welcome to Bruins Nation, an unofficial daily online scrap book covering the greatest collegiate athletic program in the nation. GO BRUINS.
Start posting about the Bruins »

Join SB Nation and dive into communities focused on all your favorite teams.

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recommended FanPosts

Small
Thoughts on the Campaign of Champions Point Plan
Bruinsnation_small
UCLA: Where Amazing Begins

Recent FanPosts

Griffin_clippers_small
Hi Bruins.
2603_1028618641249_1398823305_30086007_6195771_n_small
OT: The Downfall of the MSM
080513__0038_1_small
OT -- Ariza to the Houston Rockets Artest to the Lakers
Small
UCLA U$C* football listed as #4 in top current rivalries
Bruinsnation_small
The Point Program For The Renovated Pauley "Seating Plan"
Small
Stephenson to Cincy
Small
New Top Safety Commit Earnest Thomas
Bruinsnation_small
Mustain's Academic Issues Get "Resolved" Magically
Small
The Rotten Apple doesn't fall far from the tree...

Post_icon New FanPost All FanPosts Carrot-mini

SPONSORS


Managers

094_small Ajax

Bruinsnation_small Nestor

Menelaus2_small Menelaus

Arron_afflalo1_small Tydides

Brad_pitt_as_achilles_small Achilles

Small Meriones

Telemachus_small Telemachus

Small Odysseus

Blue_bellerophon_small Bellerophon

Authors

Images_small ryebreadraz

Official Partner of CBS Sports