With UConn's victory over Louisville on Tuesday, Geno Auriemma has guided his squad to eight national championships, two fewer than John Wooden at UCLA. He also produced a 90-game winning streak, which is two games better than Wooden's longest run at UCLA.
So how has Auriemma done it?
For Lisa Leslie, the WNBA legend and four-time Olympic gold medalist, it's all about player development.
"[Auriemma] really creates a great player that has the heart and effort," Leslie told ThePostGame. "They come, they show up every day, they're not slackers, they're not lazy, they won't give you excuses. I’ve really appreciated the type of player that he’s been able to mold."
Leslie has played with several former Huskies, including Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird and Swin Cash in the Olympics, as well as countless more during her WNBA career. And so she knows as well as anyone that Auriemma's legacy is not limited to the college game.
"[Auriemma] makes a great, respectable pro player," Leslie said. "And that all comes from the dedication to the sport. They're smart players, they understand the game. So I believe that he does a phenomenal job of teaching these women the game and taking them to the next level."
Leslie is an advisory board member for the Capital One Cup, an NCAA Division I athletic award given annually to the top men's and women's college athletics program.
