UConn coach Geno Auriemma shares the heartfelt message he delivered to Lady Vols coach Kim Caldwell
UConn head coach Geno Auriemma won’t be getting any free meals anytime soon in Knoxville — he’s undoubtedly a villain on Rocky Top — but that didn’t stop him from sharing a heartfelt message to Lady Vols head coach Kim Caldwell before Thursday night’s game between the Huskies and Tennessee.
Caldwell led the Lady Vols to an 80-76 win against UConn on Thursday night, securing Tennessee’s first win in the classic rivalry since 2007.
After the game, Auriemma told reporters what he said to Caldwell before the game tipped off.
“I think stepping into a situation like this, stepping into this program when you’re a young coach that’s never coached (at this level) can’t be the easiest thing in the world,” said Auriemma. “And I just wanted to remind her that, watching from afar, I can see the difference. And I can see the impact that she’s had. And I just wanted to let her know that I noticed that.”
Caldwell was hired last April by Tennessee athletic director Danny White to replace Kellie Harper as the head coach of the Lady Vols.
One of the reasons White hired Caldwell, who was an under-the-radar head coach at Marshall prior to landing at Tennessee, was because of her unique up-tempo style of play.
Auriemma referenced that style of play after the game on Thursday night.
“Obviously, they have a style of play that’s a little bit different than what you normally see,” explained Auriemma. “And I think anytime you can be different, I think that sets you apart. People have to prepare for you a little bit differently than they do for everybody else. It’s unusual for somebody to sub five players, four players at a time. And I think it takes some getting used to and just the way game is — you have to keep your composure against them. And I think she does a great job of forcing you to adapt to them.
“Except for a three minute or two minute stretch there in the third quarter, I thought we handled it great. The pressure wasn’t an issue. But that’s the beauty of playing like that is you just need a couple minute spurt and it can change the game. So certainly, it’s much more difficult to play down here than it was the last three or four years.”
Caldwell, who gave birth to a baby boy less than three weeks ago, has done an incredible job during his first season leading the Lady Vols. There was already no doubt before Thursday night that she’s the right person for this job.
The win against UConn on Thursday night, however, not only solidified Caldwell’s standing as the right person for the job, but it gave the first year Lady Vols head coach some important ammunition to use on the recruiting trail as she looks to restore the Tennessee program to its former powerhouse status.
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