Did Geno Auriemma Play Basketball?

Geno Auriemma has been the coach for the women basketball at the University of Connecticut for 39 years. He began working at UConn in 1985.

After he was hired in August of 1985, the University of Connecticut women's basketball team quickly rose to prominence. They had their first 20-win season, conference title and NCAA Tournament appearance.

Between 2000 and 2003, he led UConn to 21 conference regular-season and 20 conference tournament titles as well as 69 consecutive home victories. The team set single-game and season-long attendance records in the Big East Conference.

Connecticut has won more than .500 in 33 consecutive seasons and three NCAA record streaks of 111, 90 and 70 wins.

Auriemma led UConn to its 89th consecutive victory in December 2010, one more than UCLA's all-time NCAA men's wins record of 88.

The Huskies then broke their record with an incredible 111-game winning streak that lasted from 2014 to 2017.

They have also appeared in every NCAA Tournament since 1989 which is the third-longest active consecutive appearances streak in Division I as of the end of the 2018-19 season.

Rebecca Lobo, Jennifer Rizzotti, Kara Wolters, Nykesha Sales, Svetlana Abrosimova, Sue Bird, Swin Cash, Diana Taurasi, Tina Charles and Breanna Stewart are among the 13 All-Americans Auriemma has coached.

Auriemma was named head coach of the United States women's national basketball team in 2001. The team won its first five games and advanced to the medal rounds of the Junior World Championship in the Czech Republic. The US team won the bronze medal after defeating Australia 77 - 72.

He was named head coach of the United States women's basketball team for the 2014 FIBA World Championship for Women as well as the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Geno has been inducted into the National Italian-American Sports Hall of Fame as well as the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame. He also received the Presidential Medal of Freedom which is the country's highest civilian honor.

Geno Auriemma salary 2023 is 2.4 million dollars annually. Auriemma contract at UConn is set to expire in 2024-25.

His base salary will be $600,000 per year with additional compensation for speaking, consulting and media obligations totaling $2.2 million. The salary is increasing by $100,000 each year for the duration of the contract.

Auriemma's contract includes several bonuses including bonuses for winning the Big East regular season, tournament and NCAA tournament.

The bonus amount he receives are as follows:

Conference Performance:

• One half-month salary for winning the Big East regular season ($25,000)
• One half-month for winning the Big East Tournament ($25,000)

NCAA Tournament:

• One month’s salary for reaching the NCAA Tournament ($50,000)
• One month for reaching the Sweet 16 ($50,000)
• One month for reaching the Elite Eight ($50,000)
• One month for reaching the Final Four ($50,000)
• Two months for winning the National Championship ($100,000)

Coach of the Year Awards:

• One half-month salary for winning any National Coach of the Year award ($25,000) OR
• One quarter-month salary for winning the Big East Coach of the Year award ($12,500)

Geno has other sources of income in addition to coaching. He operated as an assistant trainer for St. Joseph, Bishop Kenrick and Virginia demonstrating his expertise in the field.

The contract is set to expire in 2026 with a $1 million buyout clause if both parties agree to end it before that date. Except for a few outliers his salary ranks in the top 10% of men's basketball head coaches nationwide and he is paid significantly more than his female co-workers.

He also receives many additional perks such as:

• A $15,000 annual vehicle allowance is payable biweekly.
• Hartford Golf Club membership for a family.
• He and his wife will be reimbursed for all work-related travel expenses.
• 30 tickets to all UConn women's basketball games with the option of purchasing an additional 20 for home games.
• Eight tickets to all home men's basketball games.
• All football home games feature four chair-back seats and 24 suite tickets.
• Two tickets to all other UConn home sporting events.

Geno Auriemma Net Worth

Geno Auriemma's net worth is estimated to be 10 million dollars as of 2023.

The coach's most valuable asset is his house in Storrs, Connecticut. He paid $250,000 for the house in 1992 and it is now estimated to be worth more than $1 million.

He is a generous philanthropist who has donated millions of dollars to charitable organizations. He serves on the board of the Pat Summitt Foundation which raises funds for cancer research.

Geno Auriemma also supports the young members of the UConn Women's Basketball Foundation which offers scholarships and other assistance to UConn women's basketball players.

Geno gave a statement during the 2016 Final Four “If your body language is bad, you will never get in the game,”. His response went viral after a year he made it.

In the YouTube video, Auriemma explains how he holds all of his players to the same high standards regardless of whether they are a star or a reserve. This was his message to all players and coaches.

He used an anecdote about former UConn star Breanna Stewart to explain how he benched the All-American for "acting like a 12-year-old." Stewart won 4 national championships with the Huskies in four years before being selected first overall in the 2016 WNBA draft.

His coaching style is known for emphasizing teamwork, discipline and paying attention to body language.

Auriemma communicates with his players through body language in a variety of ways. He has his way of making a statement in the body language.

He will frequently clap his hands or give them the thumbs up to reinforce good behavior. If a player makes a mistake, then he would put forward a single of shaking his head or crossing his arms.

Geno Auriemma championship record is 11 NCAA trophies between 1995 and 2016. He also has an extraordinary six undefeated seasons.

Along with the national titles, Auriemma has led the UConn Huskies to a record 22 Final Fours cementing his place in college basketball history.

He has the longest current streak of NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament appearances. He holds the record of 33 consecutive appearances as of 2023.

Some of his unbroken records are:

• Men's or women's NCAA basketball coach with the highest winning percentage (minimum 10 seasons)
• Most NCAA Division I men's and women's championships.
• Most NCAA Division I Men's and Women's Final Fours.
• Men's or women's NCAA Division I Tournament victories.
• Fastest female coach to 700, 800, 900, 1,000, and 1,100 victories.
• Any level men's or women's fastest coach to 800, 900, 1,000, and 1,100 wins.

The table below displays his awards and achievements since 1989.