Sports

Second-year Cal coach Lindsay Gottlieb leads Final Four-bound women's program to new heights

Associated Press
Published | Updated

California head coach Lindsay Gottlieb waves the net overhead after finishing cutting it down after her team beat Georgia in overtime in a regional final in the NCAA women's college basketball tournament, Monday, April 1, 2013, in Spokane, Wash. Cal won 65-62. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) (The Associated Press)

California head coach Lindsay Gottlieb directs her team against LSU in the first half of a regional semifinal game in the NCAA women's college basketball tournament Saturday, March 30, 2013, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) (The Associated Press)

Lindsay Gottlieb sure will be stylin' in the Big Easy for the Final Four.

From the second she returned to campus as California's head coach two Aprils ago, Gottlieb spoke of this moment.

And as much as the outgoing Gottlieb encourages her players to enjoy their time in the spotlight on women's basketball's big stage, assistant Kai Felton had to talk her into having a little fun with her gameday attire for Cal's debut in the showcase event.

It's not every day you get to coach in the Final Four, or go to New Orleans to do it. For Cal, this is a monumental step out from the shadows of Bay Area rival Stanford.

Gottlieb is downright giddy this is happening to a team of unselfish young women she loves dearly.