UConn’s Geno Auriemma Ties NCAA Division I Coaching Record

On a remarkable night in Greensboro, North Carolina, Geno Auriemma, the head coach of the University of Connecticut (UConn) women’s basketball team, tied the NCAA Division I record for coaching victories across men’s and women’s basketball. The storied coach, aged 70, achieved his 1,216th win on Friday night when his second-ranked UConn team defeated 14th-ranked North Carolina by a score of 69-58.

This achievement draws Auriemma level with Tara VanDerveer, the former Stanford coach who retired in April 2024 after a 38-year career. Despite this milestone, Auriemma expressed more interest in gearing his team towards contending for another national championship rather than focusing on his personal accomplishments. He remarked, «I’m more of how do I put [the players] in position so they can feel like I feel, like I’ve been very fortunate to get a lot of things come my way.»

During his illustrious career with the Huskies, Auriemma has amassed a record of 1,216 wins against 162 losses, resulting in an impressive win percentage of 88.2%. He has also secured 11 national championships, the most recent being in 2016. UConn’s next game against Fairleigh Dickinson presents Auriemma with the opportunity to surpass the record.

Preseason All-American, who spoke about playing under Auriemma, described the experience as a «dream come true» and praised his achievements and leadership. «It’s amazing, and it speaks to the longevity of what he’s built here at UConn – the history, the players, the success, the national championships,» they said.

Courtney Banghart, the head coach of North Carolina, also extended her accolades to Auriemma, recalling their meeting during her time as a graduate assistant coach at Dartmouth. She attributed Auriemma’s authenticity as his «superpower» and remarked, «He deserves his flowers. He lifts others up. He has brought people with him. So you’re talking to a Geno fan.»

Auriemma now shares the 1,200-win milestone with notable coaches, including Mike Krzyzewski, who holds the men’s basketball record with 1,202 victories achieved between Army and Duke. Unlike his peers, Auriemma has spent his entire coaching career at one institution, UConn.

Notably, in the recent victory, Bueckers shone with a performance that included 29 points, 16 of which she scored in the first quarter. Other contributions came from a Huskies freshman with 14 points, 13 rebounds, and 6 assists. In contrast, North Carolina’s efforts fell short as they shot 36% from the field.

Despite trailing by as much as 21 points, North Carolina managed to reduce UConn’s lead to nine with over seven minutes left but failed to sustain their momentum in the closing minutes. The defeat continued the Tar Heels’ losing streak in the series to seven consecutive games, their last victory against UConn being in January 2007.

Information from The Associated Press was utilized in this report.