Throughout college basketball history, men’s and women’s, no coach has had more success than UConn Huskies women’s basketball head coach Geno Auriemma.
Auriemma is entering his 39th season as head coach of UConn and has won over 1200 games in his time with the school. His records and accolades jump off the page. He’s led the team to six undefeated seasons, 28 conference championships, 23 Final Fours, and 11 national championship victories.
On Wednesday at Big East Media Day, Auriemma gave one of the best answers when asked about NIL, one of the most significant talking points in college sports at the moment.
While some coaches have rebelled against the system and quit or abruptly retired due to the changes, Auriemma said it’s time to embrace it and to go even further and destroy the ‘charade of the student-athlete.’
UConn head coach Geno Auriemma says it’s time to “stop the charade of student-athlete.”
“Let’s make it a business.”
(via @SNYUConn)pic.twitter.com/xJDSqOAGKF
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) October 24, 2024
“The NIL part, I think it’s a test. It’s a test for whether people are full of **** or if they’re serious. Do we keep the charade of student-athlete and amateurism? Or do we call it what it is? Semi-professional, pay-for-play sports,” Auriemma began before answering his own question. “Teams wouldn’t be going 3,000 miles to play a conference game if it had anything to do with student-athlete welfare, so we obviously threw that in the garbage can. Let’s call it what it is: We’re going to pay these people to play basketball or play football or play any sport at a university. Let’s make it a business and figure out how to manage the business,” the eight-time Naismith Coach of the Year added.
Auriemma went on to explain some of his ideas further, suggesting that players sign contracts with the university and implement a buyout if they want to transfer, similar to when a coach leaves for a new school.
“We’ve become professional sports. Let’s say it and let’s act it and stop the charade… I can leave anytime I want. I have a buyout. That’s a great idea, lets sign kids to a contract and put a buyout on it. Let’s make it a business… They’re getting close, but they gotta start calling it what it really is, and not be ashamed of it. The kids aren’t ashamed of it,” the 70-year-old head coach continued.
College athletics has long been a business disguised as amateurism, and it’s important for the elder statesmen of the sport, like Auriemma, to embrace it and encourage changes for the next generation of coaches.
