UConn head coach Geno Auriemma is considered one of the best college basketball coaches, and has been in the industry for more than two decades.
While Auriemma has also been one of the most loved coaches in the recent times, especially by his team, his heated exchange with Dawn Staley after the UConn vs South Carolina Final Four showdown created concerns about mental state and his future as a head coach.
Auriemma charged to Staley during their postgame handshake after losing the Final Four game and started talking aggressively with the South Carolina head coach.
UConn head coach’s “petty” behavior received flak from Yahoo Sports writer Dan Wolken, who advised Auriemma to consider retirement, while expressing concern about what the future might hold in similar situations:
“If this is what it’s going to look like as Auriemma ages into his mid-70s — embittered, petty and aggressive toward a rival coach, not to mention one of the most respected women in sports — it is not a spiral that should be playing out in public.
“Hopefully Auriemma has enough people who care in his orbit to tell him the truth: If what happened Friday night is where he’s at in the latter stages of his career, if that’s how he’s going to handle losing after 1,288 wins, it is time to think seriously about ceding the stage.”
“That can’t happen again. And yet, as Auriemma did rounds of interviews after the incident, his defiance, petulance and inability to own up a truly disgraceful moment, is worrisome.”
What’s even more concerning for many fans and analysts is that Auriemma showed zero remorse after the on-court fight during his post game interviews.
Skip Bayless Stands Up for Dawn Staley After Incident With Geno Auriemma
Many celebs, players, analysts and fans including Lil Wayne, Deion Sanders, Andraya Carter, DK Calf and more bluntly criticized Auriemma’s behaviour with Dawn Staley.
Analyst Skip Bayless also didn’t hold back in backing the South Carolina head coach and expressed his bold opinion on Auriemma:
“Dawn Staley just got even with Geno as South Carolina dominated UConn the way UConn dominated SCar last year. Then poor sport Geno got into it with Dawn, apparently saying she didn’t shake his hand BEFORE the game. Huh? Sure looked like she did. Go, Dawn go. He looks so bad.“
Auriemma also spoke about how Staley was talking to the officials and called out the “double standard” displayed during the game and said that if he ever did the same thing, he’d get tossed from the court.
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