A Lesson From UConn

by Ryan Krzykowski

I attended college in Connecticut in the 1990s.  In those days, UConn women’s basketball was just beginning to become a national power, with Coach Geno Auriemma leading the program.  There wasn’t a whole lot of sports news in Connecticut in those days, and so UConn women’s hoops was everywhere.  Coach Auriemma had become the head coach at UConn years earlier, getting hired in 1985, at the age of 31.  He’s been there ever since, spending more than half his life at one coaching stop.  Hard to imagine that happening in today’s landscape.  That’s interesting, but not the point for today.

UConn basketball continues to be prominent on the national scene, with both its women’s and men’s teams playing in this year’s national semis.  (By the time this post goes live the national champions will be crowned, but I don’t know how that’s going to turn out yet).  In just the last few years both teams have been on an incredible run — the men’s team won national titles in 2023 and 24, and Geno’s ladies team won him his 12th championship a year ago.  With that context, I found the article that was sent to me a few weeks ago absolutely fascinating and encouraging.  The article actually came out last fall and I’ll let you read it for yourself, but the short version has men’s coach Dan Hurley struggling after winning the consecutive national titles.  His 2025 group didn’t look to be competitive at the same level, and he was having a tough time in a variety of ways.  Seeking input from mentors (good idea), he talked with Geno, who gave it to him straight:

— ‘Listen,’ he (Geno) said, ‘if the only gratification and the only part of coaching that excites you is winning the national championship, then you’ve lost your way, buddy! Where’s the joy in the things that you’ve always been about as a coach before you went on the championship run, like relationships with your players, like helping people get better. Like making your team the best it can be.

There’s more to it, but that was the highlight.  It’s pretty cool to see coaches at elite levels who are about coaching people, helping them maximize what they have individually and collectively without being obsessed with the outcome.  Great stuff from Coach Auriemma.

Let’s Coach With Purpose…

Also, be sure to vote for your choice for 2026 Sharon Thompson Metro KC Coach of the Year.  Voting runs through April 10, and winners will be announced at the CFC Coach of the Year celebration on April 26.  Meet the finalists and find the voting page by clicking the link below.