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UConn brings out goat after Geno Auriemma passes Tara VanDerveer to become winningest coach in NCAA basketball history

Wade-Peeryby:Wade Peery•11/20/24
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© Mark Smith-Imagn Images

There are few coaches that will ever accomplish what Geno Auriemma has accomplished in women’s college basketball. He’s dominated the sport with ease over the past few decades, racking up 11 NCAA crowns, 23 Final Four appearances, and 28 conference regular season titles.

On Wednesday evening, he added yet another incredible accomplishment to his resume, becoming the winningest coach in women’s NCAA basketball history. He now has 1,217 wins to his name, putting him atop every other coach in the history of women’s basketball.

To celebrate the occasion, UConn brought out a real live goat on the court after he passed Tara VanDerveer to become the winningest coach in NCAA basketball history for women’s hoops.

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Paige Bueckers was by his side for pictures after the game. The No. 2 ranked UConn Huskies dominated on Wednesday evening, after they throttled Fairleigh Dickinson 85-41. Bueckers finished with 16 points, nine rebounds, and five assists. Sarah Strong led the Huskies in scoring with 20 points, eight rebounds, and six assists.

Shortly after he reached the milestone, the Huskies released a special video message from UConn men’s head basketball coach Dan Hurley on Twitter. He simply congratulated Auriemma and let him know how much he’s contributed to his coaching career.

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If you wanted to take a look at that one. You can find that one here.

Hurley is well on his way to being one of the greatest coaches the sport has ever seen, in his own right. And UConn has dominated both men’s and women’s college basketball is such a way, that we might not ever see, again. Quite frankly.

More on Geno Auriemma and his prolific career

There were many of Auriemma’s former pupils in attendance, including UConn greats Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi. The school also presented him with a special jersey with his win total on it (pictured at the top). His overall record currently sits at 1,217-162 as a head coach (88.3%).

In the NCAA Tournament, Auriemma has an overall record of 137-24. Among other accolades, Auriemma has been named the 8-time Naismith National Coach of the Year and he is in the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, as you might imagine. He has guided the USA women’s basketball team to three gold medals in the Olympics (2000, 2012, and 2016).

UConn improved their overall record to 4-0. Next up, they’ll face Oregon State on Monday, Nov. 25th. That one will be played at 7:30 PM EST.