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

[Gus Mahler]

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!!!

You're welcome. The pix were from Nan and j66.

Were your tires made of Naugahyde?

 

[Gus Mahler]

Here's the Pauley statue of Wooden (as opposed to the wooden statue of Pauley):

 

[j66kicker]

I think Kareem probably deserved his statue at Staples. My point was that I don't think there are any statues of UCLA players at UCLA.

Ahhh - sorry. Missed that

 

[HoopsFan21]

His ability to asses talent is incredible. To this day he doesn't sit back and figure he will just go after the number 1-50 recruits. He finds strong pieces (Dolson, Nurse...who are not highly recruited or thought of) and makes them into far better players than anyone thought they would be.

Dolson and Nurse were highly regarded recruits. Dolson herself said she had lots of offers besides UConn, Rutgers and Duke are ones that come to mind. Kia was a player a lot of the top programs wanted including Tennessee. UConn got into that game late because they thought she was a year younger than she actually was. I don't know why people keep perpetuating this myth that Dolson was some unwanted recruit ranked #1587th that Geno magically turned into a star when in reality I think she was ranked as a top 25 player by the recruiting services. Kia was already on the Canadian national team when she came to UConn, so clearly she was no slouch and was ranked in the top 20 or 30 of her class though it's tough to place international players.

 

[TroyHouse66]

Depicted here, obviously, teaching the half court game....

 

[hardcorehusky]

Tracy Lis

This is not true. Tracy was the all time leading scorer in the state but Geno felt she would not have meshed with what he wanted. Her father had nothing to do with it. It was a difficult decision to not recruit her as she would have added W's immediately, but Geno was building something and she did not fit in. He took a lot of flack as Lis made Providence a really good team while she was there. In the end, Geno made the right decision and Tracy had a great career in Providence.

 

[Geno-ista]

I think Geno is a coaching savant. I think he has it all. He knows the game between the lines, he knows X's and O's and why various sets work in various situations. He has the personality and charisma to recruit a special kind of person and her parents. He is generally very likable. He is a hard worker at least in that he goes out and sees what's going on the game--the AAU circuit, HS, international, etc. He is definitely a leader. He is driven. He is a communicator and can be a diplomat. Finally, as CD noted in The GA Project (and by others on this board), he knows which buttons to push with which player. He knows the psychology of reaching in and connecting the right wires.

I so very much enjoy watching the maestro perform.

Spot on great post Gus! most of his games, even against the top 10 opponents, are won long before the game is ever played. Conditioning, players with high BB IQ and world class practices and drills. Along with players that are willing to give everything to the program- it's remarkable!

 

[Geno-ista]

I just think you are wrong on this.

Many programs push the players to get in real basketball shape. If you could not pass the athletic requirements, you did not play at Rutgers for many years. Conversation across many fan-bases over the years convinces me that this is standard for teams that want to complete at a high level. It may well vary at lower levels, although probably not as much as we might think.

Every team has a system. Geno's is better than others. His isn't the only one to play "real" basketball, his isn't the only to play with discipline and toughness either. I'll hold up systems at Dayton, Green Bay, Oregon State and generally Stanford as systems that no one should question as "real basketball" and a more accurate description would be that 99% of teams don't play basketball the way Geno thinks it ought to be. Probably because they can't, due to the talent level they have.

In summary, I have long agreed that no other coach than Geno would have the success he has had even with the same talent. However, I'll argue that no other coach would not have improved their record if they had the UConn talent.

These other teams are loaded with McDonalds All Americans every year.what happens The years we land one lower ranked recruit like Saniya Chong or Kelly Farris- what happens to all the top players- they go somewhere- and it's not Uconn.
Geno teaches these kids to play team basketball better than anyone - period.
And he does it like Herb Brooks did it- he's not looking for just the best players, he's looking for the right players.

 

[svetbird]

Dolson and Nurse were highly regarded recruits. Dolson herself said she had lots of offers besides UConn, Rutgers and Duke are ones that come to mind. Kia was a player a lot of the top programs wanted including Tennessee. UConn got into that game late because they thought she was a year younger than she actually was. I don't know why people keep perpetuating this myth that Dolson was some unwanted recruit ranked #1587th that Geno magically turned into a star when in reality I think she was ranked as a top 25 player by the recruiting services. Kia was already on the Canadian national team when she came to UConn, so clearly she was no slouch and was ranked in the top 20 or 30 of her class though it's tough to place international players.

Geno has said (on the Geno show) that a lot of people wondered why he even recruited Dolson, and that she would have no chance to play for us. I know she was ranked but not expected to be the all star player she is. As for Nurse I saw a lot of rankings where she was not even top 50/ I don't think ESPN had her ranked at all. Yes I am sure many would have loved having them but they were not thought of as the game changers they actually are.

 

[RSHERMVIKES]

Geno had a work ethic instilled in him by an old world European/Italian parents that Americans especially today don't have!
He believes hard work/discipline at all times and in all situations is the only way to live one's life not just in BB!
With CD they set a standard of LIFE on and off the court to hold their players to that other coaches don't do, such as: no nail polish during the season, no head phones when out in public, no visible tattoos, intelligent talk to media & fans, nice to public media & each other, no tweet etc. during season, dress in warm-ups or good clothes when out in public not t-shirts and jeans, intelligent students, recruit individuals with a huge drive and organization in everything they do in their life not just BB, good support at home from parents that don't instill themselves in their child's success, recruit a person with a "take no prisoners" personality, he can take players with "IT" deep inside them and bring it out better than other coaches and really recruit girls that are winners in ever facet of their life!

 

[Woof 101]

Geno started at Uconn an unknown and un tried head coach. Until 1995 Uconn really didn't enter the top level of Women BB teams.
So Geno did not have an extraordinary personality or intellect or even Basketball experience. How did he do it?

I will answer the question but not the poll as it does not include a lot of questions or all of the above. No slander here but Geno & company were on the map and making progress long before 1995. They have been in the NCAA tourney every year since 88/89. In the vain of C as in championship I... C word here.
Candor... Not many have it like Geno, this resonates with players, coaches and fans alike. Of course many would use cocky...
Confidence...Walked in like he owned the place as those with this trait do. Then proceeded to go head to head with............Jim...
Calhoun...This over office space and the signs discriminating between UCONN basketball and UCONN women's basketball...
Clock...Timing is everything and his show began to shine in a decent market. A basketball state and fans that appreciate basketball played so well below the rim and isolation is not in the vocabulary...
Coaches...CD and company and all his assistants that have gone on to success.
Crowds...Again timing with coming to a state that likes basketball and has no pro sports put fannies in the seats...
CPTV... Not much to say here other than UCONN being the first to have their own TV station!
Sure this will not explain it to you but my contribution.... HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 

[HuskyNan]

Geno had a work ethic instilled in him by an old world European/Italian parents that Americans especially today don't have!
He believes hard work/discipline at all times and in all situations is the only way to live one's life not just in BB!
With CD they set a standard of LIFE on and off the court to hold their players to that other coaches don't do, such as: no nail polish during the season, no head phones when out in public, no visible tattoos, intelligent talk to media & fans, nice to public media & each other, no tweet etc. during season, dress in warm-ups or good clothes when out in public not t-shirts and jeans, intelligent students, recruit individuals with a huge drive and organization in everything they do in their life not just BB, good support at home from parents that don't instill themselves in their child's success, recruit a person with a "take no prisoners" personality, he can take players with "IT" deep inside them and bring it out better than other coaches and really recruit girls that are winners in ever facet of their life!

know this for a fact, do you?

 

[VAUConnFan]

Prior to your mentioning it as a UConn standard, I had not heard of UConn backing off of a recruit because of an overzealous father and wanted to learn more. There have been many stories of wary parents who were eventually won over, none of which specifically mentioned a skeptical father.

Responding to my own comments regarding overzealous/skeptical fathers in the UConn recruiting process, it seems that problems Coach Auriemma had with Liz Sherwood's father were definitely mentioned in Pursuit of Perfection. However, nothing, absolutely nothing has indicated that UConn ever backed off of or even considered backing off of their recruitment of Ms Sherwood; Or in their recruitment of Brittany Hunter.

Recruiting is a tough gig and Coach Auriemma has certainly expressed a pointed disdain of it, but also deals intelligently with it because of its obvious importance. It is difficult accepting that UConn will back off of recruiting a talented player because of parent issues, and even more difficult believing that Coach Auriemma would find such an issue so daunting that he would choose to just walk away rather than figure out a way of dealing with it.

 

[UcMiami]

Depicted here, obviously, teaching the half court game....

And back in the day when dunking was not permitted in the NCAA - for obvious reasons!

 

[willtalk]

Depicted here, obviously, teaching the half court game....

No he is actually checking to see if the player's put on their socks correctly. lol.

In respect to the thread, while there are many posts that give valid reasons for his success, it is highly unlikely that any other coach will ever equal or even come close to his level of achievement. Even Gino could not do it if he entered as a coach in todays WCBB field. There is too much parity in respect to players and coaches. Geno started coaching when the level of WCBB coaches was not as good and emphasis on WCBB was not as keen as it is today. He was able to establish his and UConns brand at the opportune time. He was the vanguard of the new breed of coaches. Other coaches today are following his example so that makes him less unique. Today he would be competing with more coaches like himself.

 

[Bgillon]

No he is actually checking to see if the player's put on their socks correctly. lol.

In respect to the thread, while there are many posts that give valid reasons for his success, it is highly unlikely that any other coach will ever equal or even come close to his level of achievement. Even Gino could not do it if he entered as a coach in todays WCBB field. There is too much parity in respect to players and coaches. Geno started coaching when the level of WCBB coaches was not as good and emphasis on WCBB was not as keen as it is today. He was able to establish his and UConns brand at the opportune time. He was the vanguard of the new breed of coaches. Other coaches today are following his example so that makes him less unique. Today he would be competing with more coaches like himself.

That presumes they would have figured out his secrets without Geno paving the way. Unless you are referring to the last couple of years, he has done it during this "tougher" period of WCBB with 3 straight NCs and 48 consecutive wins. Genius is hard to define but we all know it when we see it!!

 

[Jimbo]

It is difficult accepting that UConn will back off of recruiting a talented player because of parent issues, and even more difficult believing that Coach Auriemma would find such an issue so daunting that he would choose to just walk away rather than figure out a way of dealing with it.

I can't point to a specific example where this has happened, but these words from Geno lead me to believe that it has:
"For us, one of the hardest things for us to identify in recruiting is: do we want these parents in our program, yes or no. Sometimes it's not even do we want that kid in our program. Sometimes the kid's not a bad kid. Do we want these parents in our program? And you'd be surprised how many times we say, 'no, we don't.'"



His discussion of the subject begins around the 6:58 mark.

 

[Geno-ista]

No he is actually checking to see if the player's put on their socks correctly. lol.

In respect to the thread, while there are many posts that give valid reasons for his success, it is highly unlikely that any other coach will ever equal or even come close to his level of achievement. Even Gino could not do it if he entered as a coach in todays WCBB field. There is too much parity in respect to players and coaches. Geno started coaching when the level of WCBB coaches was not as good and emphasis on WCBB was not as keen as it is today. He was able to establish his and UConns brand at the opportune time. He was the vanguard of the new breed of coaches. Other coaches today are following his example so that makes him less unique. Today he would be competing with more coaches like himself.

Granted- there is more parity each year. But Geno started his dynasty after Pats, when there were only 3-5 contenders for the title. I think your post really diminishes his accomplishments. Stanford, Tenn, Ok, Baylor, ND, Md , Duke, A&M, SO Car, Texas, Cal- he has done it in a very tough environment.

 

[Gus Mahler]

No he is actually checking to see if the player's put on their socks correctly. lol.

Good one.

 

[UcMiami]

Willtalk and Geno-ista - it is an interesting question and not an easy answer:
On one side, there is no question there is more competition from other schools taking basketball seriously, and there are better coaches across the spectrum today than in the pre-2000s. That made the early competitive environment for Geno easier to navigate and to distinguish himself in.

On the other hand, for all coaches complain about lack of fundamentals in recruits, there has been an explosion of talent and athleticism and participation in sports by girls at all levels, and an explosion in the money, resources, and facilities available to college coaches which makes the process of building a program and competing at the highest levels easier. Add in the greater publicity for successful programs and much greater TV coverage which doesn't hurt.

On balance I think it is easier for newer coaches to break into the big time now than it was, and the pay is so much better that it is attracting better candidates. It is possible that we will reach a time where the building of a dynasty in WCBB is as unlikely as that in MCBB, but until the best talent leaves after 1 or 2 years in the women's game which is a long way away on current form, it will not change appreciably. Recruit a Breanna Stewart and you get four years to build around her. String together a run of Tina, Maya, KML, Breanna, and Moriah and watch out.

You look at what Kim has done at Baylor .829 win percentage and two championships in 15 years and it compares well to Geno. Jeff at Louisville .735 win percentage and two NC games in 8 years, or Dawn at SC .677 win percentage in 7 years. All comparable. And Geno himself has improved his record in each ten year segment as the competition increases around him.

No knock on what Geno and CD built nor on how special they are, and they will likely rule the universe as long as they want to, but the game is still ripe for the next such empire builders.