GA has been hands down the best recruiter of his era. Although I don't think he is quite the 'God' people make him out to be, I think he is and has been one hell of a coach too.RF, you completely missed the point of my narrative, the crux of which was that UCLA (and Cori Close) IS NOT as attractive to recruits as other programs. Just because it's a high profile (and low 12.3% acceptance rate - 2020) school in an upscale part of town close to the ocean does not make it a place players want to go to. UCLA is not as culturally diverse as some other top ranked schools.
No one GAVE Geno anything. No one is going to give Cori Close anything. Close is a good coach doing the best she can. She's in a tough conference. Stanford is now back to being the elephant in the room in the PAC 12. Oregon has abdicated the throne. I understand and appreciate that you don't agree. I respect that, but I'm calling it like I see it.
I played in Pauley Pavilion in my youth (during the Sidney Wicks/Curtis Rowe era). I've been on that campus and the campuses of ALL of the large 4 year academic institutions here in Southern California. UCLA is nice, but would not be my first choice if I were an elite wcbb recruit looking for a top ranked college program to play for.
But to get kids to come to Storrs consistently over the years, especially in the beginning when he had nothing to sell except the kid's faith in an unproven coach, is incredible!