University of Connecticut Athletics
Jim Calhoun and Geno Auriemma To Receive Winged Foot Award
5/3/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
New York, N.Y. - May 3, 2004 – ­ Connecticut’s Jim Calhoun and Geno Auriemma, head coaches of the Huskies’ men’s and women’s 2004 NCAA Basketball National Champions, will receive the New York Athletic Club’s Winged Foot Award on May 18.
UConn’s dual victories marked the first time in history that the men’s and women’s basketball teams from one school have won national championships in the same season.
The award is presented annually to the head coaches of the men’s and women’s national champions.
Calhoun previously won the men’s award in 1999, while Auriemma received the women’s award in 2000, 2002 and 2003. The men’s award was inaugurated in 1996 and the women’s award began in 1999.
In the men’s championship game, the Huskies beat Georgia Tech, 82-73 in San Antonio, Texas. In the semifinals, UConn beat Duke, 79-78. The team was led by All-America center Emeka Okafor, who had 24 points and 15 rebounds in the title game, and guard Ben Gordon, who scored 21 points against the Yellow Jackets.
In the women’s title match, UConn topped Tennessee, 70-61 at the New Orleans Sports Arena, following a 67-58 victory over Minnesota in the national semifinals.
When Calhoun arrived in 1986, the team finished 9-19. The Huskies haven’t had a losing season since. Prior to his arrival at Connecticut, Calhoun directed his Northeastern teams to a record of 248-137 (.644) over 14 seasons.
In 18 seasons at Connecticut, Calhoun has a record of 432-165 (.724) including 33-6 this season. He has guided the team to an NCAA tournament record of 32-9.
Calhoun’s record for his 32 seasons as a Division I coach stands at 680-302 (.692).
Calhoun, a graduate of American International College, and his wife Pat, have two sons.
Auriemma began his tenure at UConn in 1985 and won his first national title during the 1994-95 season, when the Huskies finished undefeated at 35-0. His 18-year record stands at 532-103 (31-4 this season), the best active winning percentage in NCAA Division I (.838). UConn, which also finished undefeated in 2002 (39-0), won the NCAA women’s crown for the fourth time in five years.
After graduating from West Chester College in Pennsylvania (1981), Auriemma became an assistant coach at the University of Virginia.
Auriemma and his wife, Kathy, have two daughters and a son.
Previous winners of the New York Athletic Club Winged Foot Award for men were Rick Pitino, Kentucky (1996); Lute Olson, Arizona (1997); Tubby Smith, Kentucky (1998); Calhoun (1999); Tom Izzo, Michigan (2000); Mike Krzyzewski, Duke (2001); Gary Williams, Maryland (2002) and Jim Boeheim, Syracuse (2003).
Past winners of the women’s Winged Foot Award were Carolyn Peck, Purdue (1999); Auriemma (2000, 2002, 2003) and Muffett McGraw, Notre Dame (2001).
