In January 2014, during an interview with SNY, Legendary UConn women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma shared a motivational trick that never fails to spark effort in his players.
The coach has built one of the most dominant dynasties in college basketball history, and he has methods that help him get the best from his players.
During the interview, he explained:
Gonna need to build a new trophy case. We’re pretty damn good. https://t.co/Zzee4ZYjln
— Geno Auriemma (@THEgenoauriemma) February 23, 2017
“Kids often come to practice and want to go at their own pace. So, there’s something I like to do with coaches and players during clinics. I’ll tell a kid, ‘Come here, I want you to run from here to the end line and back.’ The kid agrees, and I say, ‘Ready? Go.’ They run, nothing too special, just casual.
“Then I reach into my pocket and say, ‘Alright, I’ve got $100 here. If you can go from here to the end line and back in 10 seconds, I’ll give it to you.’ Now suddenly, the kid gets into a proper stance, ready like they’ve been shot out of a cannon. They take off, sprint down and back, and I start counting.
However, Geno uses this moment as one to pass one a message, teaching the kids about motivation.
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“Just as they’re about to cross the line, I call out ‘10!’ And they’re frustrated. They say, ‘But I ran as fast as I could!’ And I tell them, ‘I know you did. But the only reason you gave it your all was because of the $100. When I first asked you to run, you went at your pace. But this time, you went at my pace. That’s the difference.’
The UConn head coach mentioned where he learned the trick from.
“That’s a lesson I try to teach. I actually picked it up from Coach Knight years ago when I was just starting out, and it stuck with me. I’ve used it ever since — and it works every time.”
Geno began his coaching journey in 1977 at Bishop McDevitt High School as an assistant, before joining Saint Joseph’s in 1978, Bishop Kenrick HS in 1979 and Virginia in 1981, all as an assistant.
In 1985, he got his first opportunity to be head coach of a team, and it was the University of Connecticut women’s team, where he has been till date, achieving tremendous success.
Since then, he has transformed UConn into a powerhouse, winning multiple national championships, producing WNBA stars, and redefining excellence in women’s basketball.
When did Geno Auriemma win his first NCAA title?
Geno might be the most successful coach in college basketball history with 12 NCAA titles to his name, but he did not start winning immediately.
After taking the head coach role at UConn in 1985 and winning the Big East regular and Tournament titles four years later, it took him 10 years before landing his first NCAA title in 1995.
Before the triumph in 1995, the Huskies reached the Final Four just once under Geno in 1991. However, when they won their first, they made it back to back national championships in 1996.
