If you’re a casual sports fan and see Geno Auriemma on screen during a UConn women’s basketball game, you might think, “That guy doesn’t seem like a bundle of joy.”

Auriemma is a pivotal figure in women’s basketball and sports in general, known for his serious demeanor on the sideline. He’s recognized for voicing his frustrations towards officials and often expresses dissatisfaction with his team’s performance. He frequently raises his voice at players, which makes you question how he even manages to speak during postgame interviews. This intense persona has led to comparisons from former stars like Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi, who likened him to Ed Asner’s grumpy character in the movie “Up.”

This analogy was widely accepted, primarily due to the striking physical resemblance.

However, his animated sideline behavior and the occasional backlash often overshadow a fundamental truth about Auriemma: he is an exceptional winner. Those who truly know him assert that the impression he leaves during those heated moments on camera doesn’t reflect his complete character or the reasons behind his success.

On Wednesday night, Auriemma enhanced his already impressive legacy by achieving his 1,217th career win with an 85-41 triumph over Fairleigh Dickinson at home in Gampel Pavilion. This victory crowned him as the all-time leader in NCAA college basketball wins, surpassing former Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer, who reached that milestone in January 2024 before retiring after last season. Auriemma is now among only four coaches (alongside VanDerveer, Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski, and the late Pat Summitt of Tennessee) to reach 1,000 Division-I victories.

“To me, what stands out the most is his ability to remain driven and never settle for less,” said Bird in an interview with YSL News Sports. “He consistently strives for perfection in every practice and game. Looking back over 40 years, it’s remarkable that he hasn’t experienced a decline in his standards, especially when it’s human nature to ease up.”

Despite his remarkable achievements — including 11 national championships, 23 Final Fours, and six undefeated seasons — Auriemma’s most significant accomplishment, as noted by those who know him well, is his skill in making individuals feel valued and important.

Napheesa Collier, a two-time All-American who played for Auriemma from 2015-2019, believes this holds true even when he’s yelling at you for messing up a play or taking a poor shot.

“What often gets overlooked is his bond with the players,” Collier stated. “It’s a unique talent — he gives you his undivided attention, making you feel significant.”

Wednesday’s victory marked Auriemma’s 1,217 wins — all at UConn — a remarkable feat for a man who never played college basketball and immigrated from Italy.

Moreover, he will continue to grow that total, as the No. 2-ranked Huskies are once again strong contenders for the national championship this season. Given the rarity of Auriemma’s longevity in college sports today, it’s likely that his record will stand the test of time.

“It’s tough enough to find one person who would commit to this for 40 years, let alone two,” joked UNC coach Courtney Banghart after UConn secured its 1,216th win on November 15 against No. 15 North Carolina.

However, his players would argue that connecting with Auriemma on a personal level is far more achievable.

A Unique Ability to Challenge Players

Auriemma’s players, many of whom earned All-American honors, are particularly impressed by how he builds and maintains strong relationships with those who are part of his program. For example, his associate head coach, Chris Dailey, has been a key part of his staff for all 40 seasons in Storrs, Connecticut. As Taurasi recently commented on the “Locked on Women’s Basketball” podcast, if Auriemma is deemed the greatest coach, then “CD” is definitely a close second.

On Wednesday night, over 60 former players and coaches were anticipated to gather in Gampel for a celebration honoring both Auriemma and Dailey, which will also serve as a reunion for Huskies. It promises to be a star-studded event in women’s basketball, featuring many of the players who have felt his intensity firsthand. Frequently, they are the most enthusiastic to return.

“Most people don’t realize how good the relationships he has with his players truly are,” remarked Jennifer Rizzotti, a former player under Auriemma from 1992-96, who was the point guard for UConn’s inaugural title team. Currently, she is the president of the Connecticut Sun of the WNBA and the chair of the selection committee for Team USA. “People see his sideline enthusiasm and his witty comments during press conferences, but they fail to recognize the effort he invests in his players.”

“When he’s on you, it’s clear how committed he is to you. The worst punishment isn’t being yelled at — it’s when he stops coaching you and ignores you. He has a reputation for pushing players to reach their limits, and they still strive to meet those challenges.”

Maya Moore-Irons, a three-time national player of the year, echoed similar sentiments.

“He encompasses far more than just those moments that catch the public’s eye. Yes, being from Philly and Italian means he speaks his mind.

according to Moore-Irons, “His approach and character won’t always be everyone’s favorite, but his dedication to us is sincere.”

She chuckled, adding, “You could definitely say there was never a dull moment during our practices.”

For many years, top high school talent across the United States have chosen UConn, eager to join the ranks of players who contributed to the Huskies’ impressive collection of 11 national championships. Those looking in might question whether Auriemma ever gets tired of winning so frequently and often by large margins.

However, this is far from true, according to longtime UConn assistant Marisa Moseley.

“His motivation doesn’t come from fame or trophies,” explained Moseley, who has coached with the Huskies for nine years and is now in her fourth season at the helm of Wisconsin. “It’s all about providing others the opportunity to achieve what he has experienced — be it a trip to the Final Four or winning a national title. He genuinely wants this for them.”

Rebecca Lobo, an ESPN analyst and former UConn player who led the team to its first national championship, echoed this sentiment.

When asked about what the average person might not understand about Auriemma, Lobo laughed, suggesting that many may not realize how uncomfortable all this attention makes him. In his program, individual recognition is not the focus. Since he began coaching UConn in 1985, Auriemma has prioritized teamwork, insisting that players celebrate their teammates rather than their own achievements.

‘Wherever we went, we tried to help grow the game’

Recently, Auriemma has been approached by countless individuals regarding the soon-to-be-record-breaking achievement. Each time, he evaded praise, opting instead to highlight the efforts of his players and coaching staff.

On Friday night, following the victory over UNC, he took a moment to reflect on the remarkable evolution women’s basketball is undergoing — from record attendance and viewership to players becoming household names. One significant aspect is the increased competitiveness across the league. Since UConn last won a championship in 2016 — the fourth consecutive one — five different teams have claimed titles. Banghart commented that Auriemma should “take pride in the fact that this isn’t just a two-team race anymore. A lot of teams are now in the mix for the national championship, and both he and Tara (VanDerveer) played a huge role in that transformation. They inspired people to pursue coaching and encouraged young women to embrace basketball.”

Auriemma himself finds the trajectory of his success, and how it mirrors the sport he loves, surprisingly fulfilling.

“Over the years, we’ve fostered an environment where athletic directors and university leaders have been inspired to look at our success and ask their own teams, ‘Why can’t we achieve that?'” Auriemma noted. “Such a shift never happened before; it shows that multiple teams can succeed. It is something I know CD and I are immensely proud of — our involvement in making that change. Wherever we went, we aimed to promote growth in the game.”

In recent years, thanks to social media, the public has gained insight into the side of Auriemma that players and coaches have long recognized: he can be strict during practice but quick to lighten the mood with humor soon after. He pushes his players to excel, then shares a humorous story to help them relax — he’s known for being a fantastic storyteller.

<p“Swin Cash, who won two national championships with UConn, reminisced, “Back in the early 2000s, he’d tell us, ‘You’re the Yankees of women’s basketball; it doesn’t matter how you perform if you’re not winning!’ I used to think, ‘Seriously, we haven’t even won that many championships!’ But everywhere we went, we felt like rockstars. That overwhelming confidence was how we tackled every challenge, both on and off the court.”

This sense of rapport was vividly displayed during the 2021 NCAA Sweet 16, when first-year player Paige Bueckers celebrated a significant shot by playfully slapping Auriemma on the backside as she ran down the court. His startled reaction — turning around in disbelief while onlookers were taken aback by an 18-year-old’s audacity — quickly became a viral meme.

However, those familiar with the team reminded everyone that Bueckers wasn’t the first to have such playful exchanges. Years earlier, Taurasi had celebrated a crucial basket by giving Auriemma’s head a rub for good luck.

“If you’re an outsider, you might miss out on the whole other side of his personality,” Bird said. “Once you get to know him while playing for him, you can joke around and have fun. People are surprised by what Paige did, but for the rest of us, it was like, ‘Oh, that’s just Coach.’”

39 consecutive winning seasons, 23 consecutive Final Fours

The statistics alone illustrate a remarkable legacy of achievement. In his 40 years as head coach, Auriemma has only endured one losing season — his inaugural one in 1985-86, when the Huskies finished with a record of 12-15 overall and 4-12 in their conference.

Since then, he’s maintained a streak of success, winning his first conference title in 1989 and his first national championship in 1995. Throughout his career, he has recorded astonishing winning streaks of 90 and 111 games, with participation in every NCAA Tournament since 1989.

This feat is even more impressive given that former Virginia head coach Debbie Ryan often notes the Huskies were “basically playing in a barn” when Auriemma began — a nod to the limited resources available for women’s basketball at that time. Ryan was the one who offered Auriemma his first coaching position, bringing him on board as an assistant with the Cavaliers in 1981. After four years there, he transitioned to UConn, taking over a program that had only one winning season since its inception in 1974.

He was recruited at a meager salary.

Originally making less than $25,000 annually, he now earns over $3 million.

No one, including Auriemma, could have predicted what would unfold. He characterized his path as “a favor I did for someone that evolved into a pastime, which then transformed into this incredible journey. I never imagined it could last this long.”

To his colleagues and rivals, Auriemma’s success primarily reflects his dedication.

“He’s a hard worker,” remarked DePaul coach Doug Bruno, one of Auriemma’s closest allies. “Many perceive him as just a flashy figure in front of cameras. The truth is, he’s built his program from the ground up. Those talented players didn’t just show up at his doorstep; he created an environment that made them want to join.”

So, what lies ahead?

No one knows how much longer Auriemma, who has three kids and four grandkids with his wife Kathy, will continue coaching. UConn hasn’t claimed a championship title since 2016, which feels like a long time in Storrs. However, Lobo believes that acquiring another trophy wouldn’t necessarily lead him to retire.

“Honestly, what else is there left for him?” she stated. “No one is going to match his 11 championships. It’s not as if he needs to win a 12th to validate himself. No other coach is going to make it to 23 Final Fours, and no team will ever achieve 111 wins again.

“But that’s not his primary focus. For Auriemma, it’s all about enabling the players to enjoy these experiences, and how he can contribute to their growth as both individuals and athletes. It’s never about him.”

Yet, tonight, it is.