Geno Auriemma has been the head coach of the UConn Huskies women’s basketball team since 1985. In his 40 years with the program, he has turned it into the No. 1 program in the history of college basketball. He has led the team to 12 national championships, including one this past season. His teams have qualified for the Final Four of the tournament on 24 occasions.
Auriemma is one of the most successful head coaches in the history of women’s college basketball. Part of the reason for that is that he is able to get the most out of his players. Most coaches can get a lot out of their stars, and Auriemma can as well, but he excels at getting role players to buy into their roles and contribute where they can.
This was put on display in 2019 when a video was posted to the NCSA College Recruiting Facebook page. In the video, Auriemma gives a speech to his players, talking about how they need to contribute. However, he emphasized it does not necessarily need to be on the scoreboard. As long as they have a positive impact on the game in an area, it can help the team win.
“Even if your contribution is set a good screen, make a good pass, go get an offensive rebound and get us another possession,” Auriemma said. “Your contribution doesn’t have to be 25 points, but it has to be something, and we have to get it, and your number one contribution is the energy you’re bringing to what we’re doing.”
Geno Auriemma Said His Latest National Championship Made Staying “Worthwhile”
As the head coach of the UConn Huskies, Geno Auriemma has experienced his fair share of winning. This past season was his 12th national championship. Some fans might think that winning is not exciting for him anymore, but that does not appear to be the case. The championship ended a nearly decade-long drought for the Huskies, the longest for the team since it won its first championship under Auriemma in 1995.
Auriemma, who is 71, is the oldest coach to have won a national championship. As a result, after the national championship, he admitted that he had considered retiring multiple times. However, he went on to say that winning this national championship made returning to the team worth it.
“When I tell you it’s really out of your hands, it really is true,” Auriemma said. “All of this is in the hands of the players who are playing. And they made it all worthwhile today.”
Auriemma will return to the Huskies next season and has not given any indication since the national championship that he is considering retirement in the near future.
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