The head coach of the University of Connecticut’s women’s basketball team, Geno Auriemma, has been the mastermind behind the Huskies’ success since 1985. Over the course of his career, he has won 12 national championships, including a recent one in 2025, solidifying his legacy as one of the most successful coaches in history.
However, in an interview with journalist Dan Patrick, Auriemma shared his perspective on how his role has changed in recent years and the new challenges he faces within college basketball.
UConn’s Geno Auriemma gets unexpectedly crashed during his presser
A tougher game to manage
Auriemma explained that coaching the new generation of players is a completely different challenge than it was 15 years ago. “The players I’m coaching today are much more challenging,” the coach said. “They are much more distracted, they have many more voices in their heads, and they receive too much information. It’s hard to make your voice truly the voice.” College basketball has undergone significant changes in the way athletes interact with the system, with technology, social media, and external expectations playing a crucial role in shaping players’ mindsets today.
Auriemma also pointed out that new rules, such as NIL and the transfer portal, have deeply altered the dynamics of the sport. More and more, athletes are seeking other opportunities, either to earn more through NIL or to find places where they can have a more prominent role. “Those days of ‘waiting my turn’ are gone,” Auriemma remarked. “So we know that at the end of every year, some kid is already halfway out the door when they realize, ‘I’m not going to get the time I thought I was going to get.'”
The impact of the transfer portal
One aspect Auriemma highlighted is the influence of the transfer portal, which has become a kind of “free agency” year round, affecting not only the offseason but even the most crucial moments of the year, like the NCAA tournament. “Our free agency is year-round, and every kid is a free agent every day of the year,” the coach stated. “And then the portal opens up during the NCAA tournament. Can you imagine the NBA playoffs and free agency during the playoffs? It’s crazy.” This new reality in college basketball puts coaches under constant pressure to retain their players while striving to keep their teams competitive.
Despite the ongoing changes and challenges he faces as a coach, Auriemma remains a key figure in women’s basketball, leading UConn to excellence. With a new championship under his belt in 2025, the coach of the Huskies has his sights set on the future.
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