“Geno Auriemma was the head tennis coach”: Friend of nearly 50 years, Phil Martelli discloses lesser-known stint; UConn HC doesn't remember it

The initial days of Geno Auriemma's coaching career involved being an assistant coach to Phil Martelli at Bishop Kenrick High School in Norristown, Pennsylvania from 1979 to 1981. The two former acquaintances discussed the same on the "Make A Difference" podcast on Thursday.

Martelli claimed that they spent 90% of the year together, with the Center Square Golf Course being their staple weekend getaway. Geno Auriemma could not help but smile at the memories. However, when Martelli shared that Auriemma was also the head coach for Bishop Kenrick's tennis team, the UConn Huskies coach did not remember that stretch of his career.

"The only other thing I'll add on our podcast today is Geno's stint as a tennis coach," Phil Martelli said. "Least for one year I think, it may have been two years, this is the head tennis coach at Bishop Kenrick High School. Gino was the head tennis coach also." (14:40)

"That's a part of my life I don't remember," Geno Auriemma said. "I don't ever remember going to a to a class, I don't even know that we had tennis courts, I have no idea where any of that took place.

"I am truly shocked to hear that, I really am," Auriemma continued. "I feel bad for those kids that actually were, you know, were on the tennis team because I don't know any of them, I couldn't remember any of them if you put them in a line." (15:00)

While Geno Auriemma's stint as a tennis coach is something of a mystery now, it is common in high school for coaches to spearhead multiple sports.

Geno Auriemma wants Paige Bueckers to be "selfish" this season

Ever since the UConn Huskies lost to the Iowa Hawkeyes last season, Geno Auriemma has highlighted his desire for Paige Bueckers to be more aggressive toward the basket. He told reporters in April:

"Paige is a patient person who waits, and I think she is going to learn, or has begun to learn, that there is no waiting at this time of the year. It's you make it happen yourself. And you have to be more selfish.

"I know she wants to be the greatest teammate of all time, but I think those days are over and she needs to assert herself more. And normally she does -- you look at all those NCAA tournament games. So the fact that she didn't today, I think there was something going on there."

While Bueckers shot over 40% from the field, she only attempted 17 shots that game. Moreover, she failed to impact the stat sheet in terms of blocks and steals, resulting in her worst performance in the NCAA tourney.

With that, Paige Bueckers radiates a newfound approach in her game this season. She reflected on it after UConn’s first practice of the summer in October.

"A huge thing this summer was a complete shift in mindset," Bueckers said "Obviously, having the game I did in the Final Four wasn't what I wanted to have, and I think it really set in and it really stung me in a different type of way where I had a reality check."

Bueckers posted her career-best season last year, averaging 21.9 points, 5.2 boards, 2.2 steals and 1.4 swats on more than 50% shooting (41.6% from the arc).