Auriemma becomes winningest coach in NCAA basketball

UConn's Geno Auriemma became the winningest basketball coach in NCAA history with 1,217 victories after his squad defeated Fairleigh Dickinson 85-41 Wednesday night.

Auriemma, 70, was honored postgame alongside longtime associate head coach Chris Dailey amid their 40th season with the program.

Auriemma started at UConn in 1985. He's had one losing season ever with the Huskies, his first with the program. Over 40 seasons, his Huskies have won 11 national championships and produced legendary players, such as Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird, and Maya Moore - who were in attendance Wednesday.

"No amount of championships and no amount of numbers or awards can take the place of the lives that we've impacted, that they've allowed us to impact," Auriemma said postgame, according to ESPN's Alexa Philippou. "That, to me, is the strongest part.

"When it's over, whenever it is, what we'll remember is tonight, and I'll remember each and (every) one of my players that I've ever coached ... I don't know how much I helped them get what they wanted, but they helped me get everything I wanted."

The record previously belonged to longtime Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer, who retired months after setting the benchmark. Former Duke bench boss Mike Krzyzewski holds the men's record with 1,202 victories.

"This is yet another outstanding milestone in a career filled with them for Geno Auriemma," VanDerveer said, according to Philippou. "The level of success he has maintained at UConn over four decades will never be duplicated. But his tremendous legacy extends far beyond any number of wins. It lives in the lives of the countless young women he has positively influenced throughout his career."

In total, over 60 former players returned to Storrs to celebrate Auriemma's accomplishment.

Paige Bueckers, UConn's current star, had 16 points, nine rebounds, and five assists in the victory. Azzi Fudd returned from an ACL injury suffered last season, scoring four points. The Huskies are undefeated to begin the season.

Auriemma has also served as the head coach of the United States women's Olympic basketball team - winning gold in 2000, 2012, and 2016.