Historic moments, UConn, and Geno Auriemma seem to go hand in hand in hand as they do for Sylvia Hatchell and the women’s basketball program at North Carolina.
Auriemma and the UConn women’s program did so once again when longtime head coach Geno Auriemma reached the 1000-win plateau. It happened when the Huskies defeated Oklahoma on the home court of the Connecticut Sun – Mohegan Sun Arena.
The Huskies defeated the Sooners by a final of 88-64 on Tuesday night to further etch Auriemma’s name in the lore of women’s basketball history.
His assistant coach, Chris Dailey, has been right there as well for all of Auriemma’s victories.
You feel incredibly fortunate that you’re one of a very select few and some of the great coaches that have ever coached.
–Geno Auriemma
What’s better than 1 GOAT? 2 GOATs!!??#CD1000 #Geno1000 #1000Memories pic.twitter.com/zZDrBf9SDW
— Breanna Stewart (@bre_stewart30) December 20, 2017
Wow!! Congrats Coach & CD on 1000 Wins!!!! You both are amazing and I’m so happy to be a part of something this special!!! Love you guys!!!! #BleedBlue #1000Memories #CD1000 #Geno1000
— Breanna Stewart (@bre_stewart30) December 20, 2017
ONE. ? THOUSAND. ? WINS. ? Congrats! #Geno1000 pic.twitter.com/EAddO98FfK
— Connecticut Sun (@ConnecticutSun) December 20, 2017
Congratulations to Hall of Fame Coach Geno Auriemma on his 1️⃣0️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ win! #Geno1000 pic.twitter.com/XUqbN6s8cB
— Basketball HOF (@Hoophall) December 20, 2017
It’s win No. 1000 for Geno.
Some important members of the @UConnWBB family congratulate their coach. #Geno1000 pic.twitter.com/whwqHuRlxA— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) December 20, 2017
Thanks to Geno, Connecticut and women’s basketball will never be the same. Congrats on 1,000 wins. #Geno1000
— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) December 20, 2017
Geno and @SwinCash talk about the perception that he should be trying to coach men’s basketball. He isn’t trying to hear it. #Geno1000 pic.twitter.com/K7WIaGREcD
— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) December 20, 2017
Congrats Coach ! ♥️ #Geno1000 @UConnWBB https://t.co/hnrv1OFGXu
— Moriah Jefferson (@_BonnBonn) December 20, 2017
Huge Congrats to @cduconn & @GenoAjustsayin ??? Best to ever do it! #Geno1000 Although I’m secretly just glad they put CD’s face on the fake money this year, too ??. Much ?
— Sue Bird (@S10Bird) December 20, 2017
From @bre_stewart30 and the Seattle Storm, CONGRATS @GenoAjustsayin on win #⃣1,000! #Geno1000
??? pic.twitter.com/AF8eNoo8Es
— Seattle Storm (@seattlestorm) December 20, 2017
Photo Credit: Lance King/Getty Images
In addition to Auriemma, North Carolina women’s basketball coach Sylvia Hatchell also made it to the millennia mark when the Tar Heels defeated Grambling State in a 79-63 decision in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. It certainly serves as a milestone achievement for a coach, who back in 2013 was diagnosed with leukemia.
The only other two women’s college coaches to reach that summit—Tara VanDerveer and Pat Summitt. Only one men’s coach has made it to that mark as well—Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski. That is rarefied air to say the least.
I have a thousand people to thank for this Beyond Amazing moment! Thanks to everyone who was a part of the journey throughout the years! pic.twitter.com/DTSYCTeHge
— Sylvia R. Hatchell (@UNCWBBCoach) December 19, 2017
I’d like to personally thank our Administration @ChancellorFolt @BubbaUNC @nickimoore @MBallenUNC for being a part of the celebration today! pic.twitter.com/SldERhsIdM
— Sylvia R. Hatchell (@UNCWBBCoach) December 20, 2017
They may also be joined by C. Vivian Stringer, the head coach at Rutgers, who sits 12 wins shy of the millennia mark.
A Coach.
A Tar Heel.
A Legend.Congratulations @UNCWBBCoach Hatchell!! #Hatchell1K pic.twitter.com/rZ05QmxAej
— UNC Women’s Hoops (@uncwbb) December 19, 2017
Congrats @wbca1981 past president @UNCWBBCoach #Hatchell1K — amazing to consider all the time, talent, and service that make up 1,000 wins! HISTORY pic.twitter.com/7XwoWkxBSE
— Danielle Donehew (@DanielleDonehew) December 20, 2017
Celebration time! #Hatchell1K pic.twitter.com/1JENsLGWyR
— UNC Women’s Hoops (@uncwbb) December 19, 2017
Pretty special to be a part of history! Was able to celebrate 700 & 800 with @UNCWBBCoach and grateful to be back for 1,000! #Hatchell1K pic.twitter.com/HnNElqy4XX
— Catherine Greene (@cgreene12685) December 19, 2017
Incredible achievements & so ironic both reach this honor on the same night / Geno will put numbers that will last forever ! #Hatchell1K #Geno1000
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) December 20, 2017
Done deal. Congratulations, coaches! #Hatchell1K #Geno1000 pic.twitter.com/NUxDAElzgW
— The W Podcast (@theWpodcast_) December 20, 2017
Our current players have a special congratulatory message for Coach Hatchell! #Hatchell1K pic.twitter.com/SYhCnyE3na
— UNC Women’s Hoops (@uncwbb) December 20, 2017
Covered some of @UNCWBBCoach ‘s wins during the @accwbb Tournament over the years here in GSO. Congrats on getting career win No. 1,000….@WFMY @uncwbb #Hatchell1K pic.twitter.com/8VasW3rOiS
— Brian Hall (@bhallwfmy) December 19, 2017
Congrats on 1,000! #Hatchell1K https://t.co/m1z52Zbles
— Erica L. Ayala (@elindsay08) December 19, 2017
By: Akiem Bailum (@AkiemBailum on Twitter, Instagram)
