UConn Huskies coach Geno Auriemma once used NFL superstar Tom Brady’s paycheck as an example to explain how NIL valuation has impacted college basketball. In March 2023, Auriemma appeared on the “What Drives Winning” YouTube channel alongside long-time Gonzaga Bulldogs coach Mark Few. They dived deep into discussions that concern two of the best coaches from women’s and men’s collegiate hoops.
Auriemma was asked how the NIL and its prioritization by individual athletes will impact the working of program dynamics moving forward. For the tenured tactician, this was a growing trend that worried him, and how teams approach recruiting players. He compared it to a situation like New England Patriots legend Tom Brady’s previous $40 million contract.
“That is the big worry most coaches have. You know, I think we touched on this another time, you and I, about the starting quarterback. You saw the thing on [Tom] Brady: the offensive lineman has no problem with Brady making $40 million and he’s making $10 [million]. They’re adults, they understand, they get it, it’s part of the business, it’s part of their job. But, is an 18-year-old going to understand why that kid is getting how many opportunities to make money, and I’m not?,” Auriemma said (12:00).
Auriemma will enter his 41st season at the helm of the Huskies coaching staff in the upcoming 2025-26 campaign. The 71-year-old spearheaded UConn to an overall record of 37-3 (18-0 Big East) in the last season en route to their 12th national title, defeating the 2024 national champions South Carolina Gamecocks in this year’s national championship game, 82-59.
Read More: “I Wasn’t Going To Say No”: When Geno Auriemma Spoke Out On Meeting Wife Kathy During College Days
College basketball is becoming more like the NBA, says Geno Auriemma
In the same interview on “What Drives Winning,” coach Geno Auriemma detailed that recruiting in college basketball is becoming more and more like the NBA, wherein more players are going to demand more.
This comes after his NFL legend Tom Brady analogy, with which he believes that more and more aspirants nowadays believe they are stars.
“Whether we like it or not, we’ve become an ‘NBA-light’ situation where now, you’ve got free agency because they can leave whenever they want, and now we’ve got to deal with salary issues. Every kid is going to have an agent. It’s not going to affect every kid, but it’s going to affect your stars for sure. I don’t know how we’re going to manage it because I haven’t had to experience it yet. Hopefully, everybody will get through it, but I don’t know that it’s going to be easy,” Auriemma said (12:55).
Auriemma and his UConn Huskies head into the 2025-26 collegiate hoops season in the hunt for their 13th national title, looking to go back-to-back with their 2025 NCAA championship.
Also Read: “Kids Dont Wanna Hear it Anymore”: When Geno Auriemma opened up about different parent-student relationships
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