This is real life

How Geno Auriemma changed women’s basketball forever

Leah Cote
Leah Cote
Jul 24, 2017 · 4 min read

Geno Auriemma is a self-proclaimed hardass and one of the most successful women’s basketball coaches of all time. Eleven NCAA Division I national championships, seven Naismith College Coach of the Year awards, and two Olympic gold medals are just a few of his many accomplishments. Geno has undoubtedly attained a high level of success over the course of his career at the University of Connecticut, but the question is how does he do it? What does he do differently than all other collegiate coaches? He reminds his players time and time again that “this is real life”.

Growing up in the small town of Montella, Italy, Auriemma was not particularly privileged. He rarely had running water or electricity, and had no phone or television. What his family was rich in, however, was love and loyalty. From a young age, Geno was a natural leader who always offered to help others, especially his parents.When he immigrated to the United States at the age of seven, Auriemma had to adjust to the American lifestyle, and a big part of that was playing sports.

“If I can be part of a team the rest of my life, then I’m going to be a lucky guy and I’ve tried to do that all of my life — be part of a team.”

Geno Auriemma started playing basketball in high school, and it was there that he became passionate about the game. He lived for the competition and team atmosphere. His varsity coach Buddy Gardler was the most significant influence on him while he was a player, inspiring him to become a coach himself. Taking after Gardler, Auriemma developed a tough-love coaching style that would shape his Husky team into a power-house that has won an impressive 111 games in a row.

Before the arrival of Geno Auriemma, the UConn women’s team had only one winning season in history. Fast forward thirty-two years, and UConn has won 43 regular season and tournament titles. This comes as no surprise though, because Geno’s dedication to the game is virtually unmatched. Day in and day out he pushes his players to become the best possible versions of themselves. Geno can even be heard yelling “You guys aren’t good yet!” at a practice the day after a blowout win.

Although it may not seem like it, Geno’s manner of coaching is a way of demonstrating his passion for basketball. Truth be told, if he didn’t love what he did, then he wouldn’t be so hard on his players. My own basketball coach has always told me that if I wasn’t being reprimanded for my mistakes, then there was a problem because at that point, your coach has given up on you. Auriemma’s dedication should demonstrate just how passionate he is about the game.

Often people don’t realize how different it is to be a women’s basketball coach. Women aren’t generally as athletic or as strong as men are. So when it comes time to practice, there is as much strategy involved as there is physicality. That is why Auriemma, even when he might not have been given the best players, is still able to succeed. He trains them to mentally push through tough situations so that in a game, they are able to remain in control when their opponents falter.

Auriemma’s unique coaching style also allows for him to use his player’s emotions to his advantage. As he grows in relationships with each one of them, he is able to develop a better understanding of what makes them tick. He uses his insider knowledge to convey to his players what he wants from them without having to utter a single word. Noticing that one of his best players, Brianna Stewart, had a bad attitude, Geno sat her on the bench for thirty-five minutes. The next time she got put in the game, Brianna was more upbeat than ever. Problem solved.

But it’s not just about winning for Auriemma. He truly wants to see his players become better. Why? The answer is simple: his passion for people. Rebecca Lobo, Diana Taurasi, and Maya Moore are just a few of the All-American players that have been through the tough-love of Geno Auriemma and have come out the other side not just better players but better people. In recruiting players, Geno desires to find women like these, women who possess the same level of enthusiasm and love of basketball as he does. However nowadays, he is finding that to be an increasingly difficult task.

“Recruiting kids that are really upbeat and loving life and love the game and have this tremendous appreciation for when their teammates do something well, that’s hard. It’s really hard.”

But does he let that stop him? Not a chance.

In fact, he goes further to take part in charities such as the UConn Sandy Hook Scholarship Fund and the Geno Auriemma Leadership Conference, that are dedicated to helping future generations of basketball players succeed. For Auriemma, the job is about more than just basketball. It’s about creating unforgettable memories with unforgettable people. And that is why I think Geno’s story one for the history books.

Commit to Serve

2017 UGA Freshman College — Service Learning

Leah Cote

Written by

Leah Cote

Commit to Serve

2017 UGA Freshman College — Service Learning

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