Spring Break
The Storrs side: UConn's best coaches
Brittany Perotti
Issue date: 11/13/08 Section: Sports
Sometimes, even with all the talent in the world, a team cannot win without a great coach. There have been recent examples of this: the 2007 and 2008 New York Mets and the 2008 New York Yankees among them. In honor of Major League Baseball announcing its managers of the year today, let's take a look at the current coaching staffs at UConn.
Ice hockey: Heather Linstad
In the short time that the women's hockey team has been a varsity program at UConn, Linstad has taken it to a top-10 program. Last year, the women upset then-No. 3 St. Lawrence and had won nine straight, making it to the semifinals of the Hockey East tournament. Though they are off to a relatively slow start this season, the team has plenty of time to return to the conference tournament.
Soccer: Len Tsantiris
Tsantiris has an outstanding record as a coach, with more than 450 wins - only the second women's soccer coach to ever do so. But this year, his team was unable to make it to the NCAA tournament for the first time in 27 years after a last-second goal scored by Notre Dame in the Big East tournament. The game was the first time that the Huskies had been to the title game since 2004. Though Ray Reid will once again carry his team into the postseason, the team's 10th straight NCAA tournament appearance, Tsantiris' coaching record takes this one.
Basketball: Geno Auriemma
This is a close one, considering UConn is best known for its basketball programs - and with good reason. Both Jim Calhoun and Auriemma were able to take losing teams and turn them around, elevating them to a new status in college basketball. Both are Hall of Fame coaches. Both are on all-time wins lists for NCAA basketball. But when you think of women's basketball, you think of Auriemma. When this team doesn't make the Elite Eight, it is a shock. And as of recent events, this has to go to him, bringing the women back to the Final Four for the first time in four years.
Ice hockey: Heather Linstad
In the short time that the women's hockey team has been a varsity program at UConn, Linstad has taken it to a top-10 program. Last year, the women upset then-No. 3 St. Lawrence and had won nine straight, making it to the semifinals of the Hockey East tournament. Though they are off to a relatively slow start this season, the team has plenty of time to return to the conference tournament.
Soccer: Len Tsantiris
Tsantiris has an outstanding record as a coach, with more than 450 wins - only the second women's soccer coach to ever do so. But this year, his team was unable to make it to the NCAA tournament for the first time in 27 years after a last-second goal scored by Notre Dame in the Big East tournament. The game was the first time that the Huskies had been to the title game since 2004. Though Ray Reid will once again carry his team into the postseason, the team's 10th straight NCAA tournament appearance, Tsantiris' coaching record takes this one.
Basketball: Geno Auriemma
This is a close one, considering UConn is best known for its basketball programs - and with good reason. Both Jim Calhoun and Auriemma were able to take losing teams and turn them around, elevating them to a new status in college basketball. Both are Hall of Fame coaches. Both are on all-time wins lists for NCAA basketball. But when you think of women's basketball, you think of Auriemma. When this team doesn't make the Elite Eight, it is a shock. And as of recent events, this has to go to him, bringing the women back to the Final Four for the first time in four years.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Mike
posted 11/13/08 @ 11:59 AM EST
This article has to be considered a joke if Ray Reid, Jim Calhoun, and the women's field hockey coach aren't mentioned.
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