The U.S. Basketball Writers Association has announced it will name its women’s college coach of the year award after Norristown coaching legend Geno Auriemma once he retires, writes Jonathan Tannenwald for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Auriemma, who has been coaching the women’s basketball team at the University of Connecticut for nearly four decades won the honor six times. He also won a record 11 national championships and made the Final Four 23 times.

Outside of UConn, Auriemma coached the U.S. women’s national team to Olympic gold medals twice, in 2012 and 2016. Additionally, the team won two FIBA world championships under his leadership, in 2010 and 2014.

“Few would have suspected back in his Philly days — or on the day he signed his first contract to coach UConn, given its place in the sport at that moment — that Geno would become the most successful of them all, breaking records that are unlikely to be surpassed,” said USBWA vice president Mel Greenberg. “It is fitting and proper that his name be associated annually with the USBWA Division I Women’s Coach of the Year.”

North Philadelphia native Dawn Staley won this year’s award for leading the University of South Carolina to an undefeated season and a national championship.

Read more about Geno Auriemma and the award named after him at The Philadelphia Inquirer.

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