When they arrived at UConn 40 years ago, no one could have predicted the incredible success the women’s basketball program would see under Geno Auriemma and Chris Dailey.
Now, the Huskies will celebrate the duo’s 40th season in Storrs with several special events throughout the year.
A 40th-year celebration will be held during UConn’s game against Fairleigh Dickinson on Nov. 20 at Gampel Pavilion (time yet to be announced). The school said every former Husky who played for Auriemma and Dailey has been invited back to campus for the game for the celebration.
UConn said additional promotions, giveaways and announcements will be released throughout the season.
Since arriving at UConn in summer 1985, Auriemma and Dailey transformed a Huskies program with just one previous winning season into undoubtedly the greatest in the history of the sport. UConn has won 11 national championships, reached 23 Final Fours, completed six perfect seasons and won a combined 59 conference regular season and tournament titles.
The Huskies have competed in every NCAA Tournament since 1989, when the team won its first-ever Big East regular season and tournament titles.
A 2006 inductee to both the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, Auriemma currently ranks second in Division I college basketball history with 1,213 career wins, just behind recently retired Stanford head coach Tara VanDerveer (1,216). He could pass VanDerveer in the game against Fairleigh Dickinson if the Huskies win each of their first three games.
Dailey was one of the first assistant coaches to earn a spot in the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2018.
