Coaches react to Cori Close's comments on grind - ESPN

There's been plenty of reaction to UCLA coach Cori Close saying she doesn't know how much longer she can continue in the new NCAA environment.

«I've never been as tired as I've been in the last two years, and it's made me think how much longer I can do this,» said Close, who will lead No. 1 seed UCLA against fourth-seeded Minnesota on Friday in the Sacramento Region 2 semifinal. «And I'm just being transparent with you about that. There are so many things that are harder, and we keep losing incredible people on the men's and the women's side.»

Louisville coach Jeff Walz didn't sound close to retirement when the 54-year-old in his 19th season with the Cardinals was told of Close's comments.

«I'm friends with Cori,» Walz said. «My favorite line, I would tell her, if you don't like your job, find a new job. I mean, I'm listening this morning at 4:20 as the workers outside my window at the hotel in the street are working. I mean, you choose your profession. If you don't like it, find a new profession.»

Walz was speaking before 8 a.m. Texas time Friday morning, the day before the Cardinals play Michigan in the Sweet 16 of the Fort Worth Regional 3.

«I mean, of course, it's a lot of work, but we chose to do it and we get compensated for it,» Walz said. «I don't think anybody is going to feel too sorry for us that you might be tired. I'm tired, too, but who is not?»

Close has been coaching for 33 years, 15 at UCLA, but NIL and the transfer portal have drastically changed the game.

Some longtime coaches have stepped down over the past few seasons for a variety of reasons, including for health issues. Others have mulled retirement.

Wolverines coach Kim Barnes Arico said coaching fatigue is less about age and more about