May 22—When Geno Auriemma was asked in recent years how long he’d coach the UConn women’s basketball team, he’d answer with a question of his own: “What kind of kids will we get?”
He must love whom he’ll be working with the next four years.
UConn announced Friday that the Hall of Fame coach’s contract had been extended retroactive from April 2020 through April 2025, which will give him 40 years as the Huskies’ coach and take him to age 71. The deal can be extended for two additional one-year periods by mutual agreement.
Auriemma owns a 1,119-144 record ranking him No. 1 all-time in winning percentage (.886) and second in wins to Stanford’s Tara VanDerveer (1,125). He led UConn to a record 11 national titles and record 21 NCAA Final Four appearance, including the last 13. The second-longest streak for Final Four bids is five. In March, the Huskies matched Tennessee’s record of 27 consecutive Sweet 16 berths. They have been in the last 32 NCAA Tournaments.
UConn has won 27 conference regular season titles and 26 conference tournament titles in his tenure. The Huskies hold the three longest winning streaks in NCAA history — 70 (2001-03), 90 (2008-10) and 111 (2014-17).
“UConn has been great to me for the last 36 years and I look forward to being here for at least a few more years,” Auriemma said in a statement. “I think the future for our program, and UConn athletics, is exciting.”
Auriemma will receive a base salary of $600,000 per year and additional compensation for speaking, consulting and media obligations of $2.2 million for the 2020-21 season, which increases by $100,000 each year through the term of the contract.
The school also announced Friday that men’s hockey coach Mike Cavanaugh’s contract had been extended by five years through April 2026.
Cavanaugh’s starting salary in the new deal is $360,000, which will increase each season for a total package of $1.9 million, plus performance incentives and a retention bonus of $150,000 that will be paid on April 1, 2026 if he is still the UConn coach.
For coverage of all sports in the JI’s 18-town coverage area, plus updates on the UConn women’s basketball team and head coach Geno Auriemma, follow Carl Adamec on Twitter: @CarlAdamec, Facebook: Carl Adamec, and Instagram: @CarlAdamec.