"My family got in the way, in a good way" - Geno Auriemma reveals he came close to leaving UConn several times

The episode 3 teaser for "Geno & CD: 40 Years of Excellence" showcases Geno Auriemma talking about the time when he nearly left the UConn Huskies for another program. While Auriemma did not share what university he was considering in the video released on Wednesday, he revealed that his family prevented him from making the switch.

Associate head coach Chris Dailey also encountered the pivotal decision twice. However, Auriemma said that it could not materialize because the offers eventually fell through.

"When she had those opportunities to leave as a head coach, to be a head coach, they screwed it up on the other end," Geno Auriemma said. "Or the few times that I seriously entertained leaving, my family got in the way, in a good way."

"I was at a place for a couple days and when I got on the plane to leave, I was done in Connecticut. And when I landed, I wasn't. That's how close.

"There was another time where I had to let them know by midnight and it was the it was a done deal. And my daughter lost her mind about a quarter to 12, and I had to make the phone call that I can't do it. That's how close." (Timestamp: 0:55)

Auriemma and Chris Dailey joined the Huskies before its glory days. The program only had one winning season at the time. 40 years later, UConn basketball is one of the biggest names in college basketball and the school with the most NCAA titles in women's basketball.

Geno Auriemma was approached by four teams across Division I and the NBA

While speaking on the Dan Patrick Show in June 2024, Geno Auriemma shared that he was contacted by four men's college and NBA teams in the last 10-15 years. However, the opportunities came at the wrong point in his career.

"Four, between men's college basketball and NBA stuff," he said (Timestamp: 4:10). "I talked to a couple people about being an assistant when I thought this game was going where it's going and I thought, 'Wow I wish I was younger because it was at an age where it's like, do I really have it in me to be that and be fair to that for 100 and some games."

"I thought if I could be an assistant here for a couple years, three-four years, I think I could do this job but it just came at the wrong time."

Geno Auriemma, in his 40th season as the head coach, is aiming for his 12th NCAA championship. The feat will make him singlehandedly surpass the UCLA Bruins, which has 11 titles to its name.