-> Mora, too, has been secure and comfortable enough to pick the brains around him and learn by observing the coaching principles applied to sports quite different from his. On Monday night, he joined Auriemma, Hurley, baseball coach Jim Penders and softball coach Laura Valentino at the first of two UConn Coaches Road Shows, this one at the Kinsman Brewing Company with about 250 fans. They meet again Tuesday at Two Roads Brewing Company in Stratford.
“They understand the climate,” Mora said. “They understand the culture, recruiting, some of the things that are attractive about our institution over others. I like to watch them at games. I like to watch them all. There is nothing more fascinating to me than trying to read Geno’s lips when he’s talking to girls. I watch Danny, he’s intense; he’s passionate; he’s emotional. But I never once seen him negative toward one of his players during a game. Coach Penders, I watch him in the dugout, his demeanor, calm, directing things, never out of control. I think that’s really contagious with his players.”
Penders, like Valentino, is fresh off winning a Big East regular season title, gave Mora a “hook C” cap to wear at the spring scrimmage a few weeks ago. Monday, they traded texts about a possible transfer who wants to play baseball and try kicking for the football team. “He got right back to me,” Penders said. “He’s been great, so supportive.” <-
