Former UConn Huskies superstar and now Phoenix Mercury legend Diana Taurasi once turned to her college basketball coach for how to live life post-hoops. In a video posted by user thatGAgirl on YouTube back in Feb. 2008, Taurasi and Auriemma were being interviewed, given that the former had just wrapped up her final year of playing for the Huskies in the 2003-04 season.
Taurasi was then asked about her college course, which was sociology, and then immediately asked about what her life would be like once she is done playing basketball. When asked if she’d taken an interest in coaching similar to Auriemma, Taurasi agreed to do this despite her mentor acting sarcastically beside her.
“I could be a great coach…I was a two-time champion in camp last year with my little kids. I really put the team together. I think I would like to coach. I think I could do it. You don’t think so?,” she said. (0:40)
“No, I think you could because you have a pretty good…she keeps it fun all the time. Yeah, she keeps it fun, and that’s what coaching is all about. Teach your kids and keep it fun,” Auriemma then replied.
Taurasi went on to explain why she could see herself becoming a coach one day, but Auriemma offered another role he could see her fit better in.
Taurasi went on to speak about how she even though she recognizes that coaching can be a “stressful and demanding” job, she said she would love to engage in coaching. Auriemma went on to share that he thought she would make an amazing referee, as she had basically been coaching all her own games since she was in her freshman year of college.
Taurasi has since retired from the game of basketball back in March of this year after she spent the last 20 years playing for the Mercury. During her time under the tutelage of Auriemma and the Huskies, Taurasi spearheaded the program to three national championships from 2002 to 2004, two of which she was named the Most Outstanding Player.
Diana Taurasi reveals that the start of the 2025 WNBA season made her a bit anxious
In an interview with ABC 15 Sports back in May of this year, Diana Taurasi was being asked about how her retirement has been and what her life post-playing basketball has been like. Taurasi then revealed that the start of this year’s WNBA campaign has made her a bit worried, given that she was no longer preparing for another year in the league with her Phoenix Mercury squad.
“I think this was the weekend I was probably the most anxious, once the season actually started. You know, it’s one thing to retire when the season’s just, you know, not around. Now, the work’s back on the floor, and you know, they won their opener, so, a sense of relief. I said it early, I could just be one of those irrational fans that loves to hate,” Taurasi shared. (0:17)
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
