UConn’s Geno Auriemma overtakes VanDerveer as winningest college basketball coach

UConn women’s basketball head coach Geno Auriemma surpassed former Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer’s NCAA record for career wins on Wednesday night, following the Huskies’ 85-41 victory over Fairleigh Dickinson at Gampel Pavilion. Auriemma now holds 1,217 career wins, making him the winningest coach in Division I basketball history.  

Last season, VanDerveer, who coached for 45 years — 38 of them at Stanford — set the record for the most wins by a Division I basketball coach. She reached 1,203 wins in January with a victory over Oregon State and retired with 1,216 career wins. However, her record was broken Wednesday evening by Auriemma, who achieved the milestone in his 40th season.  

Auriemma boasts an illustrious career. Along with breaking VanDerveer’s record five years faster, he has led UConn to a record 11 national championships, 23 Final Four appearances and eight Naismith Coach of the Year awards.  

VanDerveer congratulated Auriemma in a statement, commending him for “yet another outstanding milestone in a career filled with them.”  

“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. It lives in the lives of the countless young women he has positively influenced throughout his career,” VanDerveer said. “Congratulations to Geno and Chris on this incredible accomplishment.”  

As the 2024-25 season continues, No. 2 UConn looks to build on its strong 4-0 start. Meanwhile, No. 4 Stanford, now 4-1, aims to regroup following a 79-66 loss to unranked Indiana this past Sunday.

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