She was the first US Olympic women's basketball coach and led UCLA to the 1978 national championship. She passed away at the age of 78. Moore had been in a hospital. At the 1976 Montreal Games, she led the Americans to a silver medal, a breakthrough moment for women's basketball. Nancy Lieberman said that she was a highly organized coach who understood her team's makeup. She had a feeling for the game. She helped me improve my basketball knowledge. Moore was the coach of Cal State Fullerton when they won the national championship in 1970. Moore was the head coach of UCLA in 1978 when the team won the national championship. From 1969 to 1977 she was a coach at Cal State Fullerton. She is the winningest women's basketball coach in UCLA's history, with a record of 296-181. Current UCLA women's coach Cori Close said in a statement that it was hard to put into words how deep the impact was. I am aware that I can walk on the trail that Moore paved. A life that lived up to its name. Pat Summitt was the coach of the olympic team in 1984. Moore was one of Summitt's most influential mentors. Moore was in the basketball hall of fame in 1999. She and Summitt were both in the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame at the same time. USA Basketball honors the life & legacy of Billie Moore, who was the first U.S. Olympic Women's coach in 1976 & led the USA to a silver medal. Her storied career spanned 4 decades. We are proud to have been part of her journey. Our thoughts are with her loved ones at this time. pic.twitter.com/EsLllxRWo9
Moore moved with her family to Kansas where she attended high school. She competed for a local industrial team, but didn't get to play high school basketball. She played softball in an industrial league. She received her degree from the university.
Since the 1950s, the U.S. women have competed at the world championship. It took a long time for women's basketball to be included in the summer Olympics. Moore was an assistant on the Pan Am Games team.
The US women's basketball team didn't have enough money to train or travel for the Olympics, according to Moore. Regional tryout camps for women's basketball were organized.
The primary training camp for the team was held at Central Missouri State University about 70 miles away from where Moore was born. The U.S. contingent used the university for free lodging and local businesses for donations.
Moore said they did everything on a shoestring budget. If we could get a free meal for the team, we would do everything we could.
We had a couple of weeks in Warrensburg to prepare for the Olympics. We went to Hamilton to get the qualification. We had no place to stay after we won gold there. The U.S. Olympic committee didn't think we would make it that far.
Moore turned to Kodak to sponsor the women's college basketball All-American team. Kodak assisted in arranging lodging at the University of Rochester.
Moore said that they were in a dorm section that was under construction. The players did not complain to us. They were so excited for us to go to the Olympics. Local men's players are going to help out.
The United States finished behind the Soviet Union in the gold medal game at the 1976 Olympics.
"It is hard to put into the words the depth of Billie Moore's impact. I am keenly aware that I get to walk on the trail that Billie Moore blazed. A truly remarkable life well lived."UCLA women's basketball coach Cori Close
After boycotting the Moscow Games, the US won gold under Summitt at the 1984 Los Angeles Games. Since 1992, the U.S. women have won the gold medal in basketball at the Olympics. They have won seven golds in a row.
Moore said that there are moments or accomplishments that can be like trampolines. One of those was Title IX. The growth of women's basketball could be a result of us winning a medal at the Olympics.
Moore's team won the title at UCLA in 1977 and 1978, defeating Maryland in the final. She didn't play for the NBA team but she was drafted by the Pacers. Lieberman played for UCLA in the 1979 Final Four, where the Bruins fell in the semifinals to Old Dominion.
Lieberman said that he could go to Billie in his best and worst times. She was great to have around. She was more than a person of influence. She was a person of interest. She did so many things for so many other people.
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