Is there a bigger name in women’s college basketball than Geno Auriemma currently? The UConn Huskies HC, who has been at the helm since 1985 and is now in his 40th season with the team, has led the team to a record 11 National Championships. However, the last decade hasn’t been as smooth for the program as they’ve gone without a championship since 2016. Nevertheless, Auriemma recently tied yet another NCAA record, and now, one of his former players is shedding light on the approach the legendary coach takes with his roster.

In the latest episode of The Deals by Bloomberg Originals, retired WNBA legend and a proud UConn graduate, Sue Bird, shared her thoughts on the growing momentum of women’s sports. During the conversation, the host took the opportunity to ask her about the invaluable lessons she learned while playing under Geno Auriemma at UConn and how those experiences shaped her career.

“I think the two things I take with me from Coach Auriemma: One is preparation. He always used to tell us about, he would do this like comparison between how it felt when you were, you know, ready for a test, right? How it felt when you had studied for that test. How you feel when you walk in that classroom versus when you crammed and you weren’t quite ready,” said Bird. 

Bird, who played for UConn from 1999 to 2002, earned two championships under Auriemma’s leadership. She further elaborated, “Like, of course, when you play a game, anything can happen. You have to, that is what it is. But the things that you can control, you have to, and you have to prepare in the ways that you can. So that I took with me for sure.”

Sue Bird’s insights speak volumes about how Geno Auriemma put UConn on the map. While the Huskies haven’t captured a championship since 2016, they’ve consistently remained in the conversation as one of the best teams in college basketball, making it to the Final Four six times since their last title, including a runner-up finish in 2022.

Bird also touched on another key aspect of Auriemma’s coaching: the importance of decision-making. She emphasized that Auriemma’s coaching strategies underscore the fact that no matter how talented or skillful a player is, it’s all about using that efficiently and seizing the right opportunities when they arise.

Well, this approach has clearly paid off for Auriemma, as he recently tied another NCAA Division I coaching record, proving his methods continue to lead to success.

Geno Auriemma makes History with 1,216th win, tying NCAA Division I Career Record

On Friday night, the legendary UConn women’s basketball head coach made history, guiding the Huskies to a 69-58 victory over North Carolina. This win marked Auriemma’s 1,216th career victory, tying him with former Stanford head coach Tara VanDerveer for the NCAA Division I career record, as reported by the Associated Press. While VanDerveer has had a similarly long tenure with the Stanford Cardinal, she only won three titles compared to Auriemma’s impressive 11.

Auriemma’s career record stands at an impressive 1,216 wins and 162 losses, boasting an outstanding 88.2% win rate—the highest in the history of the sport. He hit the 1,200 career win milestone during the 2023-24 season, becoming only the third coach to do so, and achieving it faster than anyone else. He joined former Duke men’s basketball head coach Mike Krzyzewski and VanDerveer in this exclusive club.

This season is particularly significant for Geno Auriemma, marking his 40th year as head coach of UConn women’s basketball. It also happens to be the final year for Paige Bueckers, the projected WNBA No. 1 pick, at the school. Auriemma has certainly made a strong start to this milestone year, with his team in blue and white cruising through their first three games undefeated.

The big question now is whether he and his squad can break the eight-year championship drought and elevate UConn’s legacy to even greater heights. Only time will tell! For now, his focus would be next game against Fairleigh Dickinson scheduled on November 20.