The longtime head coach of the Huskies program has UConn out to an unbeaten season thus far. The NCAA Tournament starts next week and Auriemma will be going for his 13th title.
When the NCAA Tournament brackets are revealed on Sunday night, the University of Connecticut women's basketball program is expected to be the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament.
And at a perfect 34-0 on the campaign, how could they not be? It's been another dominant year for the Huskies, who have the probable National Player of the Year in Sarah Strong and another bona fide star in Azzi Fudd. The defending national champions, the Huskies have rolled through the season, winning 33 of 34 games by a double-digit margin.
They captured another Big East Tournament title and are vying for a 13th national title in program history, all of which have come under head coach Geno Auriemma.
The 71-year-old Auriemma is under contract through 2029, but at his age, he could walk away at any time. Fortunately for Husky Nation, he tells the Hartford Courant that he's not planning on slowing down and will be back in 2026-27.
But whether the Huskies repeat as champs, get Auriemma’s 13th title or not, he intends to be back coaching, trolling, cajoling the best out of more UConn players. Going out on top has its appeal, but Auriemma plans, even if granted another such opportunity, to thumb his nose at it once more.
“Well, I mean, something could come up,” he said, “but there isn’t anything right now where I’d say, ‘It’s up in the air whether I’ll be back next year.’ No. That’s not what I’m thinking. I would not have been on that plane Tuesday if I was not planning to be here.”
UConn Huskies head coach Geno Auriemma watches from the sideline as they take on the Villanova Wildcats at Mohegan Sun Arena. David Butler II-Imagn ImagesThe Geno Auriemma file
Most of the following comes from a portion of our own Jami Leabow's profile on Auriemma from Jan. 23.
"Auriemma is the most successful basketball coach in NCAA Division I history among coaches of both men and women. His record entering the NCAA Tournament is 1,284-165 (.885), giving him the most victories of any coach. Among those losses, 39 of them came in his first three seasons on the job.
His teams have won 12 national titles and gone undefeated six times. Their record in 36 NCAA Tournament appearances is 142-24.
The great John Wooden is next on the list with 10 NCAA titles at UCLA.
Auriemma has nine Associated Press Coach of the Year and 19 conference Coach of the Year titles – and the case could be made that he deserved more honors."
Well, he does have more honors: He won the Big East Coach of the Year Award this season, giving him 20 total Coach of the Year titles. He's been the head coach at UConn for 41 years, including this one.
He also led the Team USA women's basketball team to two Olympic gold medals (2012 and 2016).
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While the current Huskies look pretty darn good, so do the future Huskies. Top-rated recruit Olivia Vukosa of New York is the Gatorade New York Girls Player of the Year.
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