UConn women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma ties Tara VanDerveer’s NCAA wins record
On Friday night, UConn women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma made history once again.
With the No. 2 Huskies defeating No. 15 North Carolina 69-58, he achieved his 1,216th career victory, matching the NCAA record set by Tara VanDerveer. This remarkable milestone is a record for both men’s and women’s college basketball.
VanDerveer retired at the end of the 2023-24 season, granting Auriemma the opportunity to break the record this coming Wednesday when the Huskies face Fairleigh Dickinson. Auriemma has led UConn for 40 years, compiling an impressive record of 1,216 wins and 162 losses, along with 11 national championships.
Alongside Auriemma and VanDerveer, former Duke men’s basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski is also among the few coaches to surpass 1,200 career wins. Krzyzewski has the men’s basketball record with 1,202 wins before he retired after the 2021-22 season.
The Huskies secured their victory largely thanks to Paige Bueckers, who scored 29 points, including an impressive 16 points in the first quarter against the Tar Heels.
Top Coaches in Women’s College Basketball History
Auriemma and VanDerveer have each reached 1,216 career wins in women’s college basketball, a record that surpasses all men’s basketball coaches as well. Auriemma is set to potentially break this tie on Wednesday.
Legendary coach Pat Summitt ranks third with 1,098 career wins.
Below are the leaders in wins for women’s college basketball:
- T-1. Geno Auriemma: 1,216 wins (UConn)
- T-1. Tara VanDerveer: 1,216 wins (Stanford, Ohio State and Idaho)
- 3. Pat Summitt: 1,098 wins (Tennessee (1974-2012))
- 4. Barbara Stevens: 1,058 wins (Bentley, UMass and Clark)
- 5. C. Vivian Stringer: 1,055 wins (Rutgers, Iowa and Cheyney State)