Geno Auriemma reveals secret to building unbreakable bond with players: "I remember being in that kid's shoes"

Geno Auriemma has tasted immense success in nearly four decades as the head coach of UConn's women's basketball program. Besides winning 11 national championships, the 70-year-old has coached some of the biggest talents in women's basketball, from Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi to Paige Bueckers.

One of Auriemma's strengths is forging special bonds with each of his players, which has motivated them to deliver results consistently over the years.

In a video shared by What Drives Winning, founded by renowned consultant Brett Ledbetter, Geno Auriemma revealed how his own experiences have moulded an innate ability to understand the challenges a young member on his team would face.

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"How many kids do you see yourself in, that you coach or teach, that you can say, 'I was that kid, I remember being in that kid's shoes, I know exactly what's going through that kid's head, I know what's troubling that kid right now?' Because I've lived that life already," Auriemma said.

"And how did that person that was coaching you or teaching you try to help you with that? Did it work or did it not work? How many things when you were that age did you struggle with, that you can say, I can empathize with you?

"And now, when that kid knows, that you share that common bond, you just brought that kid into your heart. And now you, and that kid, have a special bond," he added.

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Geno Auriemma breaks Division I record for all-time wins

Geno Auriemma made history on his Ruby Anniversary as head coach of the UConn Huskies. On November 20, he secured his 1,217th Division I win when the Huskies bagged a dominant 85-41 victory over the FDU Knights in front of a sold out crowd at the Harry A. Gampel Pavilion.

With that win, Auriemma surpassed retired Stanford Cardinal head coach Tara VanDerveer as the winningest coach in both women's and men's college basketball history.

Following the historic achievement, Bueckers, Azzi Fudd and Caroline Ducharme, three of the senior figures in Auriemma's current side, presented him with a special gift.

The Huskies endured a difficult trip to South Bend last week, suffering their first loss of the season to former No. 8 Notre Dame, who outplayed them to clinch a convincing 79-68 victory. This saw them slip two places to fourth in the latest update of the AP Top 25, while the Fighting Irish gained five places to move to third.