UConn’s Geno Auriemma became the winningest coach in NCAA history — breaking a tie with Stanford great Tara VanDerveer — when his Huskies defeated Fairleigh Dickinson on Wednesday night.
— Geno Auriemma’s coaching career at UConn has already been defined by unparalleled feats. Eleven national titles. Twenty-three Final Four berths, including 15 in the past 16 years. Separate win streaks of 98 and 111 games.
And on Wednesday, in front of 60-plus former players and a sellout home crowd at Gampel Pavilion, Auriemma ascended yet another mountaintop when his Huskies routed Fairleigh Dickinson 85-41 to make him the winningest coach in NCAA history.
Auriemma broke a tie he held since Friday with legendary Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer, who retired in April. His 1,217 wins are the most in NCAA history, women’s or men’s, for any division. The record-breaker was his 329th victory of at least 40 points — he’s had more than twice as many 40-point wins in his career as total losses (162).
“This is yet another outstanding milestone in a career filled with them for Geno Auriemma”, VanDerveer said in a statement on Auriemma breaking her record. “The level of success he has maintained at UConn over four decades will never be duplicated. But his tremendous legacy extends far beyond any number of wins.
