Geno Auriemma has etched his name among the all-time greats in college basketball, with 11 NCAA championships and a string of legendary WNBA stars under his wing. He is still going strong in his 40th season. You’d think that would make him the happiest coach alive. But behind the facade lies a coach who isn’t really happy with himself. 

The UConn Huskies opened up about how his early coaching days were filled with joy and a pure love for the game. When he started at Virginia and later joined UConn in 1985, he found happiness in mentoring players who looked up to him, just like those high school kids back in the day. 

But with time, things changed. Reflecting on his journey, he confessed, “I became an angry coach. I lost the joy of coaching; I lost the connection to the players… I got caught up in having to prove myself rather than just the joy of helping them.”

Sure, the results were flawless—championships, records, and accolades—but for the 70-year-old coach, something was missing. “That didn’t exactly make me happier as a coach,” he admitted on What Drives Winning. When the Italian-born head coach first arrived at UConn in 1985, the program had barely made a mark, with just one winning season in its history. 

Today, the Storrs-based program is synonymous with dominance in women’s college basketball. Under his leadership, UConn has bagged 11 NCAA championships, appeared in 23 Final Fours, and won 27 conference tournaments. He has built a pipeline of talent that flows straight to the WNBA. 

Six UConn alums have been named WNBA Rookie of the Year, and 14 have gone on to win league championships. To date, Auriemma’s impact continues to attract top-tier talent. Sophomore guard KK Arnold wasn’t shy about sharing her thoughts. 

“Seeing him on TV kind of intimidates you in a way,” Arnold said with a laugh. “But in person, I’m going to be me no matter what. So just going up to him, being goofy… him embracing that was a big thing.” This also shows that he might not be content with his attitude; his players understand his true self. 

Arnold described him as a “tough love type of coach.” And needless to say, he is certainly a bit intense, but the most caring towards his athletes. This approach has pushed him to the top, and as if his loaded resume needed more, the HC recently hit another monumental milestone. 

Geno Auriemma ties the NCAA coaching wins record

On Friday night, his Huskies defeated No. 14 North Carolina 69-58, earning him his 1,216th career victory. This ties him with Tara VanDerveer, the former Stanford coach, for the most wins in NCAA Division I basketball history across men’s and women’s programs.

But Auriemma couldn’t care less about personal records. “I’m more of how do I put [the players] in position,” he said “And they came hoping to get some of those things. So I just keep the focus on that all the time. And whatever happens on my end happens.”

But his players weren’t shy about celebrating his legacy. Paige Bueckers was full of admiration for her coach. “It’s the reason you came to UConn, to play under him,” she said. “So it’s been a dream come true, and we’re super proud of him. I know he doesn’t talk about himself too much, just a little bit.”

To put Auriemma’s record into perspective, his 1,216-162 career mark equates to an 88.2% win rate. He’s one of just three Division I coaches to surpass 1,200 wins- all with UConn., joining VanDerveer and Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski. 

Even rival coach Courtney Banghart labels herself as a “Geno fan” and believes his “authenticity is his superpower.” And while he might not celebrate his milestones, the basketball world will continue to honor him as one of the greatest ever to do it.