If Geno could do it--Why can't any coach?

[zymurg]

So, pretty much, he has just able to recruit better talent? Why do you think that is?

I'm not sure that there is a recipe. Geno has for many years invited other coaches into see his practices, and he certainly places a heavy emphasis on performance in practice. If I had to isolate one quality that is an important keystone to his continues success, it is his continued
improvement as a coach. Watch the 1995 team, then move through the years and watch the games. The teams just continue to get better.
They execute crisper on offense; they rotate better; the blockouts are better; the passes are more precise. The current players are perhaps more polished when they arrive; that makes their ceilings higher. However, Geno still develops them as individuals and teammates. Somehow throughout all these years; Geno retains his joy and love for the game.

He took limited talented boys into the upper ranks of AAU basketball. He will retire from UConn owning every meaningful record in women's college basketball. He has built overwhelmingly powerful national teams. Geno is a coaching savant, but he has continued to
learn the game, and he has become better at passing on that knowledge. I see no signs that the game has begun to pass him by; still there
will come a day when he retires. I think that his love for the game, his search to better understand it, and finally his need to impart that
knowledge will keep him active and coaching for more than a few years.

 

[uconnfan68]

Combination of luck and great talent evaluation, along with player development:

1. Uconn was 9-18 in 1984-85 and improved to 12-15 in Geno's first season, then to 14-13 in his second. That serves as evidence to me that Geno was already a good developer of talent.

2. Kerry Bascom came at the right place and time with his mother's unfortunate health, desire to stay close to home as a result, and Geno's refreshing honesty. She pushed the program forward in a way that included uconn's first league championships, NCAA tournament appearances, and first trip to the Final Four in 1991.

3. This F4 bid coincided well with the success of the men's team, what with the NIT championship, the great run to the Elite 8' in 1990, and the unveiling of Gampel. This view of Uconn basketball as a whole on the rise is what Rebecca Lobo says in hindsight she wanted to join and bring to the top.

4. With Lobo, Geno had talent. Now, he had the opportunity to make great talent evaluations. In 19992, what a class he had: jamellle Elliott and Jen Rizzotti.. Any questions there?

5. Another great talent evaluation: Kara Wolters in 1993. Meanwhile, 1994 brought on the first national #1 high school recruit in nykesha Sales who a) got to witness that Uconn was headed in right direction, and b) just happened to live in Bloomfield, CT. Finally, Uconn now also had added two more excellent role players in Carla Berube and Pam Webber. Add these two to Jen, jamellle, nykesha, Kara, and Rebecca, and Geno has assembled his championship squad.

Geno went on to win a national championship in 1995 on the strength of a 35-0 record. Quite a step above 9-18, huh?

From there, Geno evaluates talent, recruits well along with his coaching staff, and develops talent beautifully along with CD ( another reason in herself that Geno does it). That is how he's gone from a losing program to championship to dynasty to "bad for the sport".

Always like to see props for the early players. I was hooked after watching Kerry Bascom posting up against Virginia in that 1991 Final Four. Giving away 3-4" and just not quitting.

 

[Bayareahusky]

First of all, great question. Second of all, I applaud Calhoun also, who, along with Geno, took a slower program and elevated them to the top of the heap on a national level..... that is far different from Bill Self taking the Kansas reins or Alford at UCLA..... hard to build up from the bottom, and it really requires quite a vision and definitely a multi-part process plan.

There is no question that we are lucky to have Geno and CD..... they work so well together and are uber competent.... both keen basketball minds..... and I totally agree with what everyone has said here on this thread....

I have an unusual, unconventional answer to the title.... "why cannot any coach do it like Geno?" I truly believe that at some level, nobody does it like Geno because THEY ARE NOT FORCED to..... with very few exceptions..... Muffet being one.... precious few coaches come close to Geno..... and I really think that the bar is so low in WCBB for "getting by" ,..... I think many coaches are content to pocket their half million a year and live life comfortably.....

Yes, coaches have seen what he does and try and replicate PARTS of what he does, but the comprehensive schtick we are fortunate to have at UConn, I do not think others are willing to live up to..... the demanding practices..... for instance.... what other team is in as good shape as the Huskies? All the "Atta Girl" coaches.... who are "player's coaches" who do not get the potential from their players.... referring back to my previous paragraph, if in men's NCAA hoops, there is an "atta boy" coach, who allows too much, and demands too little, he will probably be fired in short time..... WCBB coaching is almost like a de facto tenure track position!!! Even when the hammer falls, it is often well after it should have fallen (Jim Foster?).....

Let's face it ... it is HARD to replicate UConn's program..... but it is not a mystery ..... the things Geno and his staff does..... It is all out there for many to see..... that is why I say that the desire to adopt the FULL breadth of the Geno-CD approach is less than a 100% fire in the belly commitment. That is my opinion.

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

So, pretty much, he has just able to recruit better talent? Why do you think that is?

Not what I said. He does more with players than any other coach in the game. His abilities led to the better and better talent he has been able to recruit over the years.

What I didn't agree with - and don't - is that other coaches don't do the same conceptual things. Geno just does them better.

My talent point specifically was that UConn does have the best talent - but I specifically said no other coach would have the success with that talent that Geno does.

Look for other posters to knock Geno. I'm one fan of another team - and no fan of Geno - that believes he is the greatest coach in Women's Basketball history. But I will not accept what I perceive as a failure of some UConn fans to understand that it his is ability that sets him apart from the other coaches, not the other coaches failure to try to coach to the best of their abilities. However, it is also disingenuous not to recognize that - given his talent - he subsequently created a talent gap that isn't the reason UConn consistently wins, but is the most likely reason that UConn dominates when they win.

 

[Grayjay]

It is my impression that another factor in his success is the savvy to recruit emotionally healthy and mature young women, who the are able to contribute to a strong team community and constructive team culture.

 

[PhillyCoach]

It is my impression that another factor in his success is the savvy to recruit emotionally healthy and mature young women, who the are able to contribute to a strong team community and constructive team culture.

Hey Grayjay - I agree. IMHO this is one of the foundations of Geno's success. Geno has said it numerous times--"It is harder and harder to find the right players for UConn." Why? Because Geno/CD have a long list of personal qualities that supersede the BB talent.

What has Tenn., Baylor & South Carolina done in the past year? IMO, They have taken in recruits and transfers based mainly (maybe or maybe not 100%) ON TALENT or ranking!! On this board there have always been arguments about why Geno did not offer this player or that player. Also, there has been head scratching when Geno gives a quick offer to someone with a low ranking (Irwin or Bent.) Only Geno knows.
In addition - only a few posters have emphasized that UConn has 2 great head coaches (unofficially) and a great supporting staff. Geno/CD know that there are a finite number of skills that are necessary to be a champion. Visiting coaches and players see a practice and notice that certain elements are done OVER & OVER & OVER & OVER & OVER. Also, CD is even more relentless than Geno in reminding players about details. DT has made jokes about CD numerous times. She was like a "Chatty Kathy Doll" reminding them over & over & over. Even Dawn Staley has mentioned that she does not run her practices like UConn because she does not agree with the emphasis of repetition-(not at UConn level.) Of course, many visiting players see that as too much work and are not interested. Bobby Knight said, "the will to win is the will to work."
IMHO these are just two of many reasons why coaches don't follow Geno's system exactly. They either can't be that single-minded (they don't have a CD either) or they have their own style. Most coaches are working their butts off. However, PERFECT practice makes perfect. Just working hard does not always do the trick.

 

[CharlesE]

It is interesting that current head coaches such as Jamelle or Jenn who have gone through the UCONN system have not had great success - defined as conference championships. Do assistant coaches typically fill a more minor role that Chris Daley does?

 

[BroadwayVa]

I put ND, TN and a couple others in the 1%. Other than those top programs, there isn't the same level of intensity or expectation.

Therein begs the question--why not? American egos being what they are, national, local, college teams expect to win--certainly their Alums and fans will go away if they don't.

 

[BroadwayVa]

10 and 0 in the NC is unfathomable. I think the man is a philosopher, he has the ability to motivate players at the biggest stage of their lives.

We ought to erect a statue of Geno when he retires along with DT, Stewy, Maya and Lobo.

Where is the statue to John Wooden?? Bill Walton, Kareem, Goodyear, et al??

 

[Hongster]

Where is the statue to John Wooden?? Bill Walton, Kareem, Goodyear, et al??

I could careless, they have nothing to do with Uconn Women Basketball. LOL

 

[Gus Mahler]

Where is the statue to John Wooden?? Bill Walton, Kareem, Goodyear, et al??

Wooden now has a statue near the main entrance to the refurbished Pauley Pavilion. I'm not aware of any statues of players.

FYI: You're thinking of the other tire company.

 

[trb123]

1. Recruiting: Team players. Some are great athletes. Others are not very fast (Mclaren, Conlon). He chooses his players with a mixture of athleticism, toughness, basketball skills and other factors that I am not aware of.

2. Motivation: "He knows how to put 12 people together and have them see one thing." - DT (From Phil’s Favorite Quote Webpage). Not many coaches can do this with players of varying abilities.
He chews up his players. He has not always done this correctly. When he unloaded on the team at halftime during the 2001 championship, it might have cost us big. Fortunately, his recruits are thick skinned.

3. Innovation: He pioneered practices against boys. At the time, not all the WBCC coaches were for it. Many did not implement it even if they had the resources.
The UCONN team hits the gym harder than most of their rivals. At least I do not read very often how other teams are going through the grinder.

4. He does not sit on his hands. He knows that to be successful he has to stay one step ahead of the competition and puts in the effort. This is same the principle than has made Apple and Intel great.
He is willing to learn from his mistakes (at least sometimes). After the Maryland game, our 3 pt Defense ranked 322nd. A rival webpage said that it will go up once our “high school season” starts. Geno said that he did not have the personnel to defend against it. I am sure he is working on it. We will be ready in March.

5. Coaching team: How many other schools have a CD, a Shea and a Marissa?

6. Luck: I will cite only one. He was very fortunate that UCONN did not have a DI football team. So the resources went into basketball. Connecticut treated its women’s sports fairer than many other states (the first years were difficult).

 

[HuskyNan]

Wooden now has a statue near the main entrance to the refurbished Pauley Pavilion. I'm not aware of any statues of players.

There's a statue of Wooden in Indianapolis.

 

[alexrgct]

I did mention CD already, but I should add that Geno knows how to assemble an assistant coaching staff. Chris Dailey has been with Geno since Day One, Shea has helped Uconn guards win five NCs and counting since 2008-09, and Marissa has helped posts (along with CD) win four and counting since 2009-10.

I also should re-emphasize how important a recruit Jamellle was. She was a great glue player and a stat line stuffer, but she was also an African-American girl from DC. Does Nykesha end up in Storrs without her? Do Maya and Tina ultimately follow? What about Tamika, Swin, and Asjha in 1998? I'd posit the first high school #1 recruit, the core of the TASS Force, and the core of the longest winning streak in the history of the sport, all stem directly and/or indirectly from Jamellle Elliot. Definitely a great recruiting decision by Geno. I'm not trying to play a race card- just implying that there is a social significance.

 

[j66kicker]

Wooden now has a statue near the main entrance to the refurbished Pauley Pavilion. I'm not aware of any statues of players.

FYI: You're thinking of the other tire company.

This is Kareem's statue at the Staples Center. He basically had to beg for it, long after Magic got his ...

 

[RockyMTblue2]

I'm not sure that there is a recipe

I'm sure there isn't. BUT, one little piece of the puzzle, which I believe even Geno has conceded by silence in the face of the observation, is that deep down and unconsciously he remains that little immigrant boy trying to prove himself in his new reality. It is his continuing awareness of his own vulnerability which I think makes him so marvelous in his ability to connect to his young minions and find ways to have them achieve more than they thought possible for themselves.

 

[BroadwayVa]

Wooden now has a statue near the main entrance to the refurbished Pauley Pavilion. I'm not aware of any statues of players.

FYI: You're thinking of the other tire company.

Thanks for the pix.
My tires move so fast I have difficulty reading them--then since I lived in Naugatuck
all tires had to be Goodyear.
Goodrich!!

Just think in 150 years from not the University will be tossing the statue in the pile of discards wondering who or why
this statue was ever erected, maybe sooner!!

Thanks Gus!!!

 

[BroadwayVa]

I'm sure there isn't. BUT, one little piece of the puzzle, which I believe even Geno has conceded by silence in the face of the observation, is that deep down and unconsciously he remains that little immigrant boy trying to prove himself in his new reality. It is his continuing awareness of his own vulnerability which I think makes him so marvelous in his ability to connect to his young minions and find ways to have them achieve more than they thought possible for themselves.

Interesting observation.

 

[CL82]

Combination of luck and great talent evaluation, along with player development:

1. Uconn was 9-18 in 1984-85 and improved to 12-15 in Geno's first season, then to 14-13 in his second. That serves as evidence to me that Geno was already a good developer of talent.

2. Kerry Bascom came at the right place and time with his mother's unfortunate health, desire to stay close to home as a result, and Geno's refreshing honesty. She pushed the program forward in a way that included Uconn's first league championships, NCAA tournament appearances, and first trip to the Final Four in 1991.

3. This F4 bid coincided well with the success of the men's team, what with the NIT championship, the great run to the Elite 8' in 1990, and the unveiling of Gampel. This view of Uconn basketball as a whole on the rise is what Rebecca Lobo says in hindsight she wanted to join and bring to the top.

4. With Lobo, Geno had talent. Now, he had the opportunity to make great talent evaluations. In 19992, what a class he had: Jamelle Elliott and Jen Rizzotti.. Any questions there?

5. Another great talent evaluation: Kara Wolters in 1993. Meanwhile, 1994 brought on the first national #1 high school recruit in nykesha Sales who a) got to witness that Uconn was headed in right direction, and b) just happened to live in Bloomfield, CT. Finally, Uconn now also had added two more excellent role players in Carla Berube and Pam Webber. Add these two to Jen, Jamelle, Nykesha, Kara, and Rebecca, and Geno has assembled his championship squad.

Geno went on to win a national championship in 1995 on the strength of a 35-0 record. Quite a step above 9-18, huh?

From there, Geno evaluates talent, recruits well along with his coaching staff, and develops talent beautifully along with CD ( another reason in herself that Geno does it). That is how he's gone from a losing program to championship to dynasty to "bad for the sport".

Great stuff Alex. Let me add a few more:

6. Men's basketball was very popular and tickets were in demand. There was a spillover effect where people took a look at the readily available WBB product and fell in love with it. There's some great synergy between the men's and women's teams success. I think both have, and do, benefit from each other.

7. Speaking of synergy, there was a perfect storm of new Connecticut based entertainment and sport programing network which needed content and a charismatic and photogenic UConn woman's basketball team. UConn got national exposure just as it was peaking to take on the established WBB dominant team, Tennessee. That vaulted an up and coming team to national brand

8. The Big East vaulted UConn, as a whole, from a regional university to a national one. That gave WB a bigger stage.

9. Geno talks one heck of line a crap. It got him the head coaching job, it got him CD and it made him a great interview. There wasn't a similar personality in WCBB at the time. It made him an easy choice to reporters and columnists, keeping UConn at center stage in the sport.

10. University support, not every woman's basketball team gets it.

11. CD, CD, CD. She and Geno are great blend of overlapping skills with the same core demand for excellence.

 

[BroadwayVa]

I could careless, they have nothing to do with Uconn Women Basketball. LOL

Proved my point. Thanks.

 

[BroadwayVa]

First of all, great question. Second of all, I applaud Calhoun also, who, along with Geno, took a slower program and elevated them to the top of the heap on a national level..... that is far different from Bill Self taking the Kansas reins or Alford at UCLA..... hard to build up from the bottom, and it really requires quite a vision and definitely a multi-part process plan.

There is no question that we are lucky to have Geno and CD..... they work so well together and are uber competent.... both keen basketball minds..... and I totally agree with what everyone has said here on this thread....

I have an unusual, unconventional answer to the title.... "why cannot any coach do it like Geno?" I truly believe that at some level, nobody does it like Geno because THEY ARE NOT FORCED to..... with very few exceptions..... Muffet being one.... precious few coaches come close to Geno..... and I really think that the bar is so low in WCBB for "getting by" ,..... I think many coaches are content to pocket their half million a year and live life comfortably.....

Yes, coaches have seen what he does and try and replicate PARTS of what he does, but the comprehensive schtick we are fortunate to have at UConn, I do not think others are willing to live up to..... the demanding practices..... for instance.... what other team is in as good shape as the Huskies? All the "Atta Girl" coaches.... who are "player's coaches" who do not get the potential from their players.... referring back to my previous paragraph, if in men's NCAA hoops, there is an "atta boy" coach, who allows too much, and demands too little, he will probably be fired in short time..... WCBB coaching is almost like a de facto tenure track position!!! Even when the hammer falls, it is often well after it should have fallen (Jim Foster?).....

Let's face it ... it is HARD to replicate UConn's program..... but it is not a mystery ..... the things Geno and his staff does..... It is all out there for many to see..... that is why I say that the desire to adopt the FULL breadth of the Geno-CD approach is less than a 100% fire in the belly commitment. That is my opinion.

I like what you say----it is HARD WORK to always be on top of every minute part of practices and games. Even other Div 1 coaches find it easier to be "a friend" than a coach and mentor. I think the short answer is as hard as the work is Geno loves it.

 

[j66kicker]

Therein begs the question--why not? American egos being what they are, national, local, college teams expect to win--certainly their Alums and fans will go away if they don't.

Why not the expectations for conditioning, effort and execution of the basics nearing perfection? Maybe there just aren't enough women coaches that really truly know what this is on the "extreme" end, since there isn't a long history of women achieving that level of basketball competitiveness. In this way being male was probably an advantage for Geno.

Obviously there are other, less successful, male coaches. IMO part of what sets Geno apart is he realizes his expectations for effort are off-the-charts higher than the norm for women, and is able to identify and recruit players who are willing to make that level of commitment. Also, by definition, they are willing to play for a male coach (or want to, a la DT: "If I'm going to have someone screaming at me, I want it to be a man.").

Finally, I also suspect he prioritizes intelligence, is able to identify smarter players, and has the discipline to eliminate less intelligent prospects regardless of physical talent and recruiting rankings. (Tennessee Titans [formerly Houston Oilers] owner Bud Adams was infatuated with Vince Young, a Houston native and star QB at Texas, and wasted a high first-round draft choice (3rd overall) on him despite Young's record lowest-ever Wonderlic score. This is an extreme example, but I bet Geno's "system" includes a basic intelligence element.)

 

[BroadwayVa]

Why not the expectations for conditioning, effort and execution of the basics nearing perfection? Maybe there just aren't enough women coaches that really truly know what this is on the "extreme" end, since there isn't a long history of women achieving that level of basketball competitiveness. In this way being male was probably an advantage for Geno.

Obviously there are other, less successful, male coaches. IMO part of what sets Geno apart is he realizes his expectations for effort are off-the-charts higher than the norm for women, and is able to identify and recruit players who are willing to make that level of commitment. Also, by definition, they are willing to play for a male coach (or want to, a la DT: "If I'm going to have someone screaming at me, I want it to be a man.").

Finally, I also suspect he prioritizes intelligence, is able to identify smarter players, and has the discipline to eliminate less intelligent prospects regardless of physical talent and recruiting rankings. (Tennessee Titans [formerly Houston Oilers] owner Bud Adams was infatuated with Vince Young, a Houston native and star QB at Texas, and wasted a high first-round draft choice (3rd overall) on him despite Young's record lowest-ever Wonderlic score. This is an extreme example, but I bet Geno's "system" includes a basic intelligence element.)

The contributions and of Christine Dailey and where the program would be without her--is a whole other thread. Hopefully, someone will ask that in a thread. But by no means can it be overlooked in terms of Uconn WBB success.

 

[Waquoit]

Right now, the UConn women's basketball program is like a gigantic flywheel that will continue to power on for as long Geno is there. He is the preeminent coach of his sport in the world. If you are a great player and want to be greater, you would want to work with him. Just like if you were a special young musician or mathmetician or scientist you would want to attend a college with the best in your field.

And just like a flywheel can't stop suddenly, it took a while the Huskies to become the force it has. I'm not sure it can be duplicated as the journey started at the perfect time. Like others have mentioned, Geno treated his team like basketball players from the start, not "lady" basketball players. That philosphy mattered because it allowed him to ignore the existing paradigm which downplayed skill and favored physicality and toughness. PHS was all about defense and rebounding, stuff like shooting and running offense took a backseat. It didn't mattered if you couldn't make a jump shot, just getting it to the rim was good enough because their athletes would clean the offensive boards. Doesn't take much skill to make a lay-up. When Geno finally had the team to put it all together, the result was the famous backdoor festival of 2000.
The PHS way was gone for good, Geno's way of letting skilled players use their skill was now the standard and the sport was better for it. My favorite outcome was when PHS announced that she was going to meet with John Wooden to work on updating her approach. Geno didn't need to meet with Wooden, he was studying Wooden 20 years earlier.

But getting back to the original question, why can't other coaches do what Geno does? To a certain extent some like Mulkey and Muffet do. They put a top team out there every year. But to become the iconic success Geno's become, I'm not sure that can happen at this time. When Geno started, he created a different, better way to coach the game. Nowadays, Geno's way is THE way. And I don't see anyone out there out-Genoing Geno. He's the GOAT, period.

 

[VAUConnFan]

Why not the expectations for conditioning, effort and execution of the basics nearing perfection? Maybe there just aren't enough women coaches that really truly know what this is on the "extreme" end, since there isn't a long history of women achieving that level of basketball competitiveness. In this way being male was probably an advantage for Geno.

Obviously there are other, less successful, male coaches. IMO part of what sets Geno apart is he realizes his expectations for effort are off-the-charts higher than the norm for women, and is able to identify and recruit players who are willing to make that level of commitment. Also, by definition, they are willing to play for a male coach (or want to, a la DT: "If I'm going to have someone screaming at me, I want it to be a man.").

Finally, I also suspect he prioritizes intelligence, is able to identify smarter players, and has the discipline to eliminate less intelligent prospects regardless of physical talent and recruiting rankings. (Tennessee Titans [formerly Houston Oilers] owner Bud Adams was infatuated with Vince Young, a Houston native and star QB at Texas, and wasted a high first-round draft choice (3rd overall) on him despite Young's record lowest-ever Wonderlic score. This is an extreme example, but I bet Geno's "system" includes a basic intelligence element.)

1. Not only an extreme example, but one totally unnecessary that does not make your point.
2. Vince Young having the lowest ever Wonderlic score is untrue. Totally untrue. He had the same score as Dan Marino.
3. Vince Young not only led Texas to the national championship, but was the AFC Rookie of the Year. If a high draft choice was wasted, it was not because Vince Young lacked the necessary intelligence.

You cannot tell me that Coach Auriemma is constantly recruiting student-athletes like Rebecca Lobo, Sue Bird, and Nicole Wolff.

 

[VAUConnFan]

I think he made a choice early on to not to recruit players with big-mouth fathers, no matter how highly-ranked they are. That set the right tone.

He tried very hard to recruit Brittany Hunter. Her stepfather was a royal pita, but he would have loved to have her. In fact, he DID love to have her, even after she blew out he knee.

1. Give me one player UConn backed away from recruiting because of an overzealous father.
2. IIRC, it was Ms Hunter's mother with whom the UConn staff had issues.

 

[ChicagoGG]

IS THERE A FORMULA THAT CAN BE PUT FORTH THAT WILL GIVE--SAY WALZ (AT LOUISVILLE) A MAP TO GOING TOE TO TOE WITH GENO??

NO.

 

[Waquoit]

1. Give me one player UConn backed away from recruiting because of an overzealous father.

Tracy Lis

 

[VAUConnFan]

Tracy Lis

A good ballplayer, Miss Lis about whom I know absolutely nothing about her recruitment, so will have to take your word for it.

 

[HuskyNan]

1. Give me one player UConn backed away from recruiting because of an overzealous father.
2. IIRC, it was Ms Hunter's mother with whom the UConn staff had issues.

1. Ariel Massengale
2. No, it was the step-dad. He was actually a mod on the Duke board and liked to trash talk Geno. Guy is a loon.