Adia Barnes and her husband, Salvo Coppa, are key members of the University of Arizona basketball team as coaches. Adia Barnes is the head coach of their women’s basketball team, while Salvo Coppa serves as an assistant coach. Adia Barnes, the head coach of the University of Arizona’s women’s basketball team, has held the position since 2016. She is also a former WNBA player who has served as an analyst and commentator for basketball games.
Who is Salvo Coppa, Adia Barnes’ Husband?
Salvo Coppa, born on March 4, 1979, is the assistant coach to his wife, Adia, at the University of Arizona. As the head coach, his wife’s leadership and his job as assistant coach create a distinct and distinctive dynamic, forging a bond both on and off the field. Coppa has a wide coaching history that includes coaching in the Italian First Division (A1), national teams in Europe and Asia, and NCAA Division I college basketball.
With a remarkable track record, he won three gold medals from three different teams. Coppa was the Associate Head Coach of Trogylos Priolo in the Italian Division 1 for seven seasons when he mentored WNBA All-Star Tari Phillips. The 45-year-old also coached Michelle Greco, Kristine Haynie, and Florina Pascalau, all of whom played in the WNBA. Before coaching in the United States, he was the head coach of Thailand’s Women’s National Team. Under his leadership, the squad won the Gold Medal in the South-Eastern Asian Games in 2011. As a result, they won their first gold medal in 16 years.
This achievement demonstrates his great coaching career and effect on the world scene. He is an initial member of his wife Adia’s coaching staff, and the two are the heart and spirit of Arizona basketball. Coppa has undergraduate and master’s degrees in Public Relations from IULM University in Milan, Italy. He is also a licensed FIBA coach and speaks four languages: Italian, English, Spanish, and French.
Balancing Coaching and Their Personal Life
The coaching pair has created a close-knit family unit with their two children, Matteo and Capri. They are responsible parents who have made personal sacrifices for their children’s advancement. In a 2021 interview, the couple discussed how difficult it was to balance basketball with parenting. They admit, like everyone else, that they are not perfect parents. Coppa, on the other hand, said that they attempt to spend as much time as possible with their children, especially during the hectic basketball season.
Similarly, Adia discussed the sacrifices of having children and how family always comes first.
“We care about kids and make significant sacrifices for them. We do not have a social life. We don’t care about it. We make the most of our free time by spending it together. Sometimes it is difficult, and you don’t want to go to the zoo on your day off.”
Their dedication to parenting is clear, as they prioritize family time for their children despite the rigorous and stressful nature of coaching. This reinforces their strong feeling of parental obligation.
