When you hear Geno Auriemma, the first thing that comes to mind is the legendary women’s basketball coach. But do you know the term ‘women’s basketball’ doesn’t quite sit right with him? For the UConn Huskies coach, it’s not about gender; it’s about basketball players. He doesn’t coach women; he coaches athletes who happen to be women.

He’s this larger-than-life figure who has redefined norms in sports, transforming a once-overlooked program into an electrifying powerhouse. Sure, he can come off as blunt, but his mentees would agree that deep down, he’s got a heart of gold that beats for his players and family. Speaking of the family brings us to the woman behind the man who is on his way to becoming the winningest women’s basketball coach of all time: Kathy Auriemma.

What is Kathy Auriemma’s family background?

Being together for four decades, Kathy has shaped Auriemma’s life in ways we can only begin to appreciate. From their early days on the basketball court, she has been supporting not just his rock, but also the many players who’ve come through the Storrs-based program.

Kathy Auriemma was raised in the Philadelphia region. There aren’t many public details involving her early childhood, but what we do know is that she was raised by a single mother. No doubt, growing up in an independent environment shaped Kathy’s fierce and self-sustaining character. Which has been a valuable asset to have as the wife of an admired coach whose career pulls him away from home a large portion of the time.

Because of this, the couple kept a home in Avalon, New Jersey to be close to the families from Philadelphia, as that part of her life always remained significant to the couple.

How did Geno and Kathy Auriemma meet?

They first crossed paths back in the day at Montgomery County Junior College in December 1972. The coach was dazzling on the basketball court while Kathy was cheering from the sidelines. Their initial meeting sounds like a scene straight out of a romantic comedy. Geno drove her home after a game, and as he likes to put it, “The rest is history.”

They tied the knot six years later in 1978, with their love blooming even when they were ‘broke but madly in love.’ Throughout these years, Kathy has worn many hats: mother, coach, and even a second mom to many of the UConn players. In her own words, “I’m whatever they need me to be.” The girls affectionately call her “Mrs. A.”

The athletes have often appreciated her approachable nature and as someone who genuinely cares for their well-being, always there with a listening ear or a homemade meal when they need it. Former player Stefanie Dolson once said, “When you think of the brains of UConn basketball, you think of coach Auriemma. But when you think of the heart, you think of Mrs. A.” 

What is Kathy Auriemma’s background and career?

In the beginning, Kathy worked as an English teacher, where she was able to interact with the students and help instill her love of education in them. Later, she was involved with her alma mater, Miss Porter’s School. Where she was a coach, can you believe it? which just goes to show that sports was something that she loved.

But honestly, Kathy’s true career, if you ask me, is being the glue holding the Auriemma family together. She’s been Geno’s unwavering partner every step of his illustrious coaching career, she has supported Geno and UConn’s players through it all, and everyone loves her and for her kindness and open-heartedness.

Kathy is additionally heavily involved in charitable causes focused around women, children and education. Kathy is involved in helping breast cancer awareness, supporting local schools and advocating for young athletes to improve their mental health.

How is Kathy and Geno’s life as a couple?

Kathy and Geno Auriemma have been married for more than 40 years, and their life together has been full of affection, companionship, and off course, basketball. The couple met in college at Montgomery County Junior College. Kathy was a cheerleader and Geno was a basketball player. One day after a game, Kathy asked Geno for a ride home. The rest, as the clichéd expression goes, is history.

The pair got married after dating for six years, and since then, they have been each other’s biggest supporters amid life’s curveballs. Arguably, Kathy has supported Geno throughout his tenure as a coach, even from day one when the times were tough. For instance, Kathy was with her husband when he first visited UConn for the sit-down about the coaching job. Their relationship is centered around mutual respect and deep friendship, and that goes hand in hand with the atmosphere they foster around UConn basketball.

What is Kathy’s role in their family?

Kathy Auriemma is known as “the rock” of the Auriemma family, the one who manages everything behind the scenes. Kathy was always the mom who was behind the scenes holding everything together for the family and their three kids – daughters Alysa and Jenna and son Michael. Alysa once described her mom as “holding down the fort,” and referred to her as Olivia Pope, the main character from the hit TV show “Scandal,” because of the calm and collected way she handles stuff at home.

But Kathy fills more roles than that of simply being mom to her children; she, in many ways, is like a second mother figure to many of the UConn women’s basketball players. “I’m whatever they need me to be,” Kathy once said of her interactions with both her family and players.

Geno himself has been vocal about Kathy’s role as his most trusted confidante, advisor and loyalist, someone who he leans on the most. Together they have built a compassionate household full of integrity and caring and love.

What is Kathy’s Ethnicity?

There are not many details available regarding Kathy Auriemma, her ethnicity, or her religion, in the public domain. However, we can make a few assumptions based on her background and the context of her life.

Kathy is a Philadelphia area native who met Geno Auriemma in college. Geno, whose parental line traces back to Italy, is likely to have had a big family behind him in terms of culture, which may have impacted him growing up. However, there are no visible sources that explicitly state Kathy’s own ethnic background.

When it comes to her faith, there is no way of telling for sure what her religious beliefs are, but it should be noted that families often hold common faith traditions or respect one another’s faith background.