UConn head coach Geno Auriemma is on the verge of making history as the all-time winningest coach in NCAA basketball, with the No. 2 Huskies set to host Fairleigh Dickinson on Wednesday night.
If UConn secures a victory, Auriemma will surpass retired Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer after tying her 1,216 career wins with last Friday’s triumph over No. 16 UNC. Unlike VanDerveer, who coached at Idaho and Ohio State before Stanford, Auriemma has dedicated all 40 years of his head coaching career to UConn.
Forty seasons of UConn excellence for Auriemma
Already a legend in the game, Auriemma has been at the helm of UConn’s women’s basketball program since 1985, taking over a team that had only seen one winning season before his arrival.
“We started at ground zero, at nothing — we didn’t have the advantage of location, the advantages of the reputation of the school, we didn’t have the luxury of a big-time league that could elevate us,” Auriemma explained. “We started at the absolute ground level and it has evolved into this.”
Auriemma’s success is reflected in his program’s impressive achievements, driven by his high standards, recruiting skills, and the hard work and selflessness he instills in his players.
In total, the nine-time AP Coach of the Year has a record 11 national championships, dominating the NCAA title from 2013 to 2016. His Huskies have completed six undefeated seasons and made 23 Final Four appearances — more than any other NCAA team, men’s or women’s.
Sharing in Auriemma’s success is his longtime partner, associate head coach Chris Dailey, who has stood by Auriemma’s side for all 40 seasons at UConn.
UConn’s unmatched legacy of world-class athletes
Wednesday’s sold-out game will feature many of Auriemma’s former players in attendance. At least 63, including stars like Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, and Maya Moore, are expected to be in Storrs to celebrate the milestone.
Auriemma’s true legacy is seen in the athletes he has nurtured. The 70-year-old coach has played a pivotal role in showcasing players who not only put UConn on the map but have elevated women’s basketball nationally.
UConn’s first Final Four appearance in 1991 allowed Auriemma to attract the country’s top high school recruits. Center Rebecca Lobo took a chance on the program despite her parents’ objections, all because of Auriemma.
“He was the selling point. The reason to go there was to play for him. That has stayed consistent, especially in the early years,” Lobo shared with reporters. “He could be the one to usher you into the best version of yourself.”
Coach Auriemma’s UConn-to-WNBA pipeline
Auriemma’s guidance has transformed many UConn players into standout professionals. With Lobo becoming UConn’s first WNBA player in 1997, a total of 47 Huskies have graced the WNBA. Last season, 17 former UConn players were on league rosters, representing all 12 teams.
Current standout Paige Bueckers is projected to be the top pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, potentially marking Auriemma’s sixth top pick sent to the league. Previous top picks include Bird, Taurasi, Moore, Charles, and Stewart.
Bueckers often praises Auriemma, echoing the sentiments of many players who have shared the court with him. “It means everything to play for UConn, and to play for him,” Bueckers recently expressed.
As for Auriemma, who is committed to continue leading the Huskies until 2029, the impending milestone caught him by surprise.
“I don’t think anybody goes into anything thinking that they’re going to spend 40 years of their life at one place doing the exact same thing,” Auriemma shared with reporters. “The best way I can describe it, you know, it just caught up to me.”
How to watch UConn vs. Fairleigh Dickinson women’s college basketball
The star-studded sold-out game honoring UConn head coach Geno Auriemma will tip off in Storrs against Fairleigh Dickinson at 7 PM ET on Wednesday. Live regional coverage will air on SNY.
