- From Montella to March Madness. Geno was born in a small town in Italy with no phone, no TV, and no car – but plenty of grit. That same tenacious spirit brought him all the way to Storrs, where he’s now won his 12th national championship. Just call him the Godfather of the game.
- When Geno took the UConn job in 1985, he accepted the gig without even seeing the facilities, because for him, it was more about the “who” rather than the “what.” He later found that the team had a gym with no locker room and a roof that leaked mid-practice. The facilities were a mess, so he built a dynasty instead.
- Geno just became the oldest coach in men’s or women’s college basketball history to win a natty at 71. His response? “You know why no one else has done it? None of ’em are dumb enough to coach this long.” Iconic.
- He told the Today Show he doesn’t feel 71, because being around young, hungry athletes keeps him young too. “I feel like I’m having an impact on them, and they’re having an impact on me.” OK, coach, we’re emotional now.
- Geno once said Diana Taurasi is the greatest winner in basketball…period. Their era at UConn redefined the sport, and he believes that when people talk about the WNBA or Olympic hoops, they’ll always talk about her. (He’s not wrong.)