Women's basketball assistants

I spoke with new head coach Nikki Caldwell about her plans for her staff and she said that she's got a few people lined up, but planned to interview the current staff that's still on campus --Pam Walker, Trisha Stafford-Odom and Maylana Martin Douglas -- and said she's open to retaining someone.

I've talked with both Stafford-Odom and Martin and both said they'd love to stay at UCLA. Stafford-Odom, who is known within coaching circles as a top recruiter and in-game strategist, said she had an opportunity to leave last year, to a prominent SEC program, but chose to stay at UCLA because she believed in the players she'd helped recruit to UCLA and wanted to be a part of their development. And, she said, because she's from the area and has a husband and young child.

Martin, who is one of the all-time great players in school history, also said she'd like to stay. She's earned a reputation as an excellent player-development coach, specifically with post players. Martin has drawn some interest as a head coach too. She interviewed for the UNLV job at the Final Four, but is not considered a finalist.