Hartford, CT – UConn head coach Geno Auriemma has spent 40 seasons at the helm of one of the most dominant programs in college basketball.
Auriemma’s résumé—11 NCAA national championships, eight Naismith Coach of the Year awards—cements his status as a coaching icon.
But at 70 years old, Auriemma’s future remains an open question, and he has hinted that his retirement could be imminent.
The shifting landscape of college sports, fueled by the NCAA’s rule change allowing players to profit from their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL), has drastically altered the game.
The result? A financial arms race where student-athletes now prioritize the highest bidder over program loyalty.
During a Feb. 21 appearance on The Athletic Women’s Basketball Show, Auriemma didn’t hold back on how these changes have affected coaches across the country.
“Coaching in 1985 and coaching today would be the difference between riding a tricycle and flying a jet plane,” Auriemma said. “You can’t even imagine the difference, the landscape, how it has changed, and why so many coaches are dying to get out of the game.”
The impact of NIL has been particularly brutal for programs lacking deep financial resources. While powerhouse schools continue to thrive, mid-majors and less-funded programs are left behind, unable to compete with the massive endorsement and sponsorship deals that sway recruits.
“Because it’s unmanageable. Not that it’s unfair, that’s beside the point that it’s unfair,” Auriemma said. “It’s unfair to mid-majors, it’s unfair to the schools that don’t have the money, it’s unfair to everybody except the 40 or 50 schools in the country that can afford to live in that world.”
For decades, Auriemma built UConn into a dynasty through elite player development, strategic recruiting, and sustained excellence.
Now, he argues that the traditional model of building a program has become obsolete.
“So it’s unfair for the rest of college sports. But it’s unmanageable. You can’t manage it,” he said.
