STORRS, Conn. – Geno Auriemma, the veteran UConn women’s basketball coach, achieved a major milestone on Wednesday night by securing his 1,200th career win. This places him as one of only three coaches in the history of men’s and women’s college basketball to reach this impressive mark, joining the likes of former Duke men’s coach Mike Krzyzewski and current Stanford women’s coach Tara VanDerveer on this prestigious list.
Auriemma, 69, has spent 39 seasons with the UConn Huskies, transforming them into a powerhouse of women’s basketball. His extensive coaching career has seen 11 championship victories, 22 Final Four appearances, and only three NCAA tournament misses. Auriemma’s stellar performance has earned him a place in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame since 2006.
As of now, Auriemma is in a close race with VanDerveer, who has secured 1,206 wins, for the all-time mark, with Auriemma having hit the 1,200 wins mark in a shorter timeframe and having lost over 100 fewer games than his counterpart. Despite the competition, Auriemma’s reputation as one of the best college basketball coaches remains unquestionable. With this latest milestone, he further solidifies his place in history.
Auriemma’s UConn team demonstrated their dominance on Wednesday night with a resounding 67-34 win over Seton Hall. Aaliyah Edwards led the charge with 18 points and 15 rebounds, while Ashlynn Shade contributed 17 points, shooting 5-of-10 from behind the arc. Seton Hall, on the other hand, struggled with shooting accuracy, managing only a 22% field goal rate and a dismal 2-of-23 from behind the arc.
With the win, UConn’s season record now stands at 20-4 as they gear up to face No. 1 South Carolina next on Sunday. Auriemma’s pursuit of surpassing Krzyzewski and VanDerveer is undoubtedly a compelling storyline to follow, as he continues to etch his name in the annals of college basketball history.