UConn Women’s Basketball: Geno Auriemma Named 2017 AP Coach of the Year

After exceeding expectations this season, Geno Auriemma’s impressive coaching job was recognized.

By Daniel Connolly@DanielVConnolly Mar 30, 2017, 5:40pm EDT

Geno Auriemma accepts his 9th AP Coach of the Year award.

Coming into this season, most expected the UConn women’s basketball team to take a step back after losing three All Americans. However, there would be no rebuilding in Storrs as the Huskies powered their way to yet another undefeated regular season.

With the team far outperforming preseason expectations, the Associated Press named head coach Geno Auriemma the National Coach of the Year. It is the ninth time Auriemma has won the award, but the first time winning the award in back-to-back seasons.

This season, Auriemma scheduled one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the country, playing 11 NCAA Tournament teams in that span. The Huskies record remained spotless and won all but two games by double-digits.

During conference play, it was much of the same for UConn as they blew through all their opponents en route to both the AAC regular season and tournament championships.

At different points in the season, the Huskies dealt with injuries that shortened their already-thin bench. In January, Crystal Dangefield missed two weeks with a foot injury. Against South Carolina, Kia Nurse injured her ankle and missed the remainder of the regular season and was limited during the AAC Tournament.

This is the second coach of the year award Auriemma has won this season, with the first being the WBCA National Coach of the Year, the seventh time he has won the award.

Also announced on Thursday, Washington G Kelsey Plum was named AP Player of the Year. This season, she averaged 31.7 points-per-game along with 5.1 rebounds-per-game and 4.8 assists-per-game. Plum also became the all-time scoring leader in NCAA women’s basketball after passing Jackie Style’s record of 3,393 career points with a 53-point performance.

Washington’s Kelsey Plum
Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
Washington’s Kelsey Plum
Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
UConn head coach Geno Auriemma shakes Washington’s Kelsey Plum’s hand to congratulate her on her award win.
Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
UConn head coach Geno Auriemma
Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
UConn head coach Geno Auriemma
Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
UConn head coach Geno Auriemma
Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
UConn head coach Geno Auriemma
Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
UConn head coach Geno Auriemma
Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
Members of the UConn women’s basketball team watch as their head coach talks about winning the AP Coach of the Year award.
Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
Members of the UConn women’s basketball team watch as their head coach talks about winning the AP Coach of the Year award.
Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
UConn head coach Geno Auriemma
Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
UConn head coach Geno Auriemma
Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
Washington’s Kelsey Plum
Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
UConn head coach Geno Auriemma & Washington’s Kelsey Plum
Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog