By Chris Garvin
6/4/2024
STORRS, Conn. – University of Connecticut director of athletics David Benedict announced a five-year extension to the contract of head women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma on Tuesday.
“I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to continue to work alongside Geno Auriemma and his staff to add to what is already the gold standard for success,” Benedict said. “Coach Auriemma has dedicated over half of his life to UConn and our women’s basketball program and will undoubtably be known as one of the greatest collegiate coaches of all time. His presence, dedication and loyalty to this university and state is priceless and will be critical as we enter the most transformational period in college athletics in the past 40 years.”
Auriemma’s contract extension, which runs through April 2029, is valued at $18.7 million over the five-year term and includes the opportunity to earn additional compensation in the form of performance-based incentives. He will receive a base salary of $400,000 per year and an additional compensation for speaking, consulting and media obligations of $2.94 million for the 2024-25 season, which increases by $200,000 each year through the term of the contract.
“Geno has been such a mainstay at UConn that it’s impossible to overstate his lasting positive influence on our student-athletes, the women’s basketball program and Connecticut as a whole,” President Radenka Maric said. “His leadership and nearly 40 years of commitment to our university have brought immeasurable value and name recognition to both UConn and the entire state.
“We know he has even more to demonstrate and teach all of us in the years ahead – not only about leading a world-class basketball program, but also about living a life of conviction, compassion, and service,” Maric added. “The university is fortunate to have him continuing in this role, and we look forward to the successes ahead under his strong leadership.”
“I’d like to thank David Benedict, Radenka Maric and the University of Connecticut leadership for their trust in me and their commitment to the women’s basketball program,” Auriemma said. “I still find it hard to believe that I’ve been at UConn for over half my life. I feel like there’s so much more that can be done, and will be done, and I’m excited to be the one to do it with my staff and my team. I’m probably as excited about these next few years as I’ve ever been over the last 40.”
Auriemma enters his 40th season at UConn in 2024-25. During his tenure, he has transformed the UConn women’s basketball team into an unmatched program of excellence.
Under Auriemma, the Huskies’ have won 11 NCAA Championships, competed in 23 NCAA Final Fours, completed six perfect seasons and won 59 conference championships.
Auriemma has been named Naismith National Coach of the Year eight times, AP National Coach of the Year nine times, WBCA National Coach of the Year seven times and conference coach of the year 17 times.
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.
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