Legendary UConn women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma has had a front-row seat to some of the greatest careers in basketball history, mentoring Hall of Famers and today’s stars like Rebecca Lobo, Swin Cash, Tina Charles, Breanna Stewart, and, most recently, Paige Bueckers.
Yet, his most cherished and enduring bond seemingly remains with Diana Taurasi, who stands among not only one of the greatest players ever to wear a Huskies jersey but arguably one of the best in basketball history.
Taurasi played under Auriemma from 2000 to 2004, becoming a cornerstone of UConn’s dynasty. With Auriemma at the helm, Taurasi led the Huskies to three consecutive NCAA championships from 2002 to 2004, averaging 15 points, four rebounds, and four assists on an efficient 56.8 effective field goal percentage.
Blending her versatility as a forward or guard and mixing in a high basketball IQ and competitive edge, the coach-player duo became synonymous with greatness. Their connection transcended the basketball court with Auriemma’s philosophy not only wanting to develop a star player, but also a star human being.
Known for his demanding yet compassionate coaching style, Auriemma pushed Taurasi like no other with tough love, never letting her take shortcuts or settle for mediocrity. During an appearance on What Drives Winning, the legendary UConn coach explained the reasoning for his watchful eye over his players’ careers.
“My parents never knew anything that I was doing from the time I was 13 or 14. Nothing. They didn’t understand it,” he explained. “So, I told Dee [Taurasi], I said, ‘Dee, I’m the only person in America you can’t con,’ and she knew it.” In 2016, Auriemma captured their relationship perfectly before the Rio Olympics, where Team USA dominated its way to a Gold medal. They went 8-0 in the tournament with Taurasi leading the team in scoring [15.6 points] and three-pointers made.
“It’s not always easy, like with anyone like that,” Auriemma said about Taurasi. “Because she’s easy to coach as long as you do everything she wants you to do. Perfect [example of] Diana Taurasi: You say, ‘Diana, what do you think about this?’ ‘I dont know coach, you’ve been around, do what you want to do.’ So you go, ‘All right, I think we’re going to do this.’ And she goes, ‘Really? Pfft, that sucks.'”
That honesty and shared understanding became the foundation of a relationship that went “way, way beyond basketball,” as Auriemma described it. Taurasi, who has often referred to Auriemma as a father figure, credits him with instilling in her the habits and mindset that propelled her to become a WNBA legend.
After leaving UConn, Taurasi built a legendary WNBA and international career, but the bond with her college coach never lost a beat. Auriemma has celebrated her winning WNBA championships and MVPs, and Taurasi was present when he became the most winning coach in NCAA Division I basketball history.
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