Following UConn’s 93–62 dismantling of Florida State in December 2010, Geno Auriemma registered his 89th consecutive win. He surpassed the previous 88 straight victories set by John Wooden’s UCLA men’s basketball team from 1971–74. The packed crowd at the XL Center cheered about the fact.
Soon after, media and analysts started comparing Auriemma’s legacy to that of Wooden. However, the Huskies coach didn’t bother much. He said:
“I’m not John Wooden and this isn’t UCLA,” Auriemma said. “This is Connecticut and that’s good enough.”
John Wooden’s grandson Greg Wooden was also present in the arena when Huskies won against Florida State. He was thrilled and gave his reaction upon seeing the streak of his grandfather being broken by a women’s basketball team.
“My grandfather would have been thrilled. He would have been absolutely thrilled to see his streak broken by a women’s basketball team,” Wooden said. “He thought, especially in the last 10 years, that the best basketball was played at the collegiate level – and it wasn’t by the men.”
Geno Auriemma and John Wooden both have legendary careers
The number of national championships defines the greatness of a coach and both Geno Auriemma and John Wooden had won several of them.
Auriemma has won 12 national titles as his UConn now holds the record for most championships in Division 1 basketball history. Meanwhile, Wooden, who coached the UCLA men’s team, won 10 national titles.
When Auriemma broke the record with his 11th national title in April 2016, he said (via ESPN):
“When I was a kid, I was a great admirer of the UCLA basketball program. I knew every one of their players. I watched them play as much as I could. I read everything about them.
“I remember taking a step back and saying, ‘This is an unbelievable scene.’ What those 11 national championships mean to me is how many great people I’ve been around.”
When it comes to career total wins, Auriemma has won over 1,250 games and boasts a .882 winning percentage, the highest in D-1 basketball history. On the other hand, Wooden amassed 620 wins over 27 seasons and held a .808 winning percentage.
Moreover, Auriemma coached six perfect seasons (1994-95, 2001‑02, 2008‑09, 2009‑10, 2013‑14, 2015‑16). His longest win streak was 111 games (2014–17). Meanwhile, Wooden’s UCLA recorded four perfect seasons.
Prominent basketball analyst Stephen A. Smith has praised Auriemma as the greatest coach in American sports history. As far as Wooden is concerned, he was renowned as the “Wizard of Westwood.”
At the end of the day, both Wooden and Auriemma had coaching careers few can dare to match.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in football, basketball, and more!
