TUCSON, Ariz — "We met in Italy," said Arizona Basketball assistant coach Salvo Coppa. "She was playing for a pro team, and I was coaching a pro team."
"Well, I thought he was pretty cute," said head coach Adia Barnes.
"I gave her a high-five," added Coppa. "That's how we met."
"I didn't know if he spoke English," remembered Barnes.
Salvo Coppa speaks five languages. Also impressive is his knowelege of basketball. He's won numerous gold medals as an international coach.
"He's just really charming, well rounded, and a great basketball mind," said Barnes.
But, Adia and Salvo's relationship began just as Adia's international playing carer was coming to an end. And when Adia was offered the assistant head coaching job at Washington, Salvo moved to the United States to be with her. They were married a year later.
"He chased me all the way to America," aid Barnes.
Cappo had sacrificed his career for hers. But when Barnes took the head coaching job at Arizona, these teammates for life, became coaches in Tucson. They try to separate their work and personal life.
"When we come to the office we work, and when we go home, we think about our family and our son," said Coppa.
"It's been good, and he's a good supporter," said Barnes. "As a head coach, to have a great basketball mind tht is just as invested as you are, it speaks volumes, and it's one of the reasons we are successful."
