UConn women’s basketball players say that head coach Geno Auriemma is as demanding as ever in his 40th year leading the Huskies, currently ranked No. 2 in the nation. However, the players insist that the legendary coach’s intense practices are just one aspect of his relationship with his team, and that the 70-year-old also has a softer side.

Auriemma first took over the University of Connecticut women’s basketball team in 1985, when the program has posted just one winning season in its entire history. Since then, the Huskies have been a force, winning 11 NCAA Division I championships, making the Final Four 23 times, and winning 27 conference tournaments.

Now, Auriemma is on the cusp of another milestone. With a Huskies win this Friday against No. 14-ranked North Carolina, the Italian-born head coach will tie recently-retired Stanford head coach Tara VanDeVeer for the most wins by a coach in college basketball history, men’s or women’s.

Auriemma’s success has been the reason why the team continues to attract some of the best players in the nation to Storrs, Connecticut. Among those players is KK Arnold, a sophomore guard from Wisconsin whose outgoing personality will help lead the team this year.

“Seeing him on TV, it just kind of like intimidate you in a way,” Arnold said. “But in person, I mean, I’m going to be me no matter what. So just going up to him, being goofy. … him embracing that was kind of a big thing.”

Auriemma’s steely exterior is famed among players and college basketball observers, but Arnold and others insist that the coach balances that approach with a caring attitude that ultimately gets the best out of the team. Since Auriemma took over UConn, the school has had 45 players drafted by WNBA teams since the professional league began in 1997, with two famous alums (Rebecca Lobo in 1997 and Nykesha Sales in 1999) allocated to specific teams.

Phoenix Mercury star and UConn alum Diana Taurasi embraces Geno Auriemma on the sideline during a recent WNBA game.

Geno Auriemma is still beloved by many of his former players, including the Phoenix Mercury’s longtime star Diana Taurasi ( 

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“He’s a tough love type of coach, which I love about him,” Arnold said. “He has his time where he’s goofy, making jokes about us and everything, but when it’s time to get in the grid, he’s really in your stuff.”

Generally speaking, Auriemma’s players have gone on to significant success after turning pro. Six former Huskies have been named WNBA Rookie of the Year, and 14 have ultimately gone on to win the league championship.

Auriemma has previously expressed reservations about public celebrations of his accomplishments, but nonetheless the school is preparing a celebration of his career (and that of associate head coach Chris Dailey) next Wednesday, Nov. 20, when the school hosts Farleigh Dickinson.