Hall of Fame coach, Geno Auriemma coached the UConn women's basketball game last Sunday against Maryland, three days after his mother, Marisella Auriemma passed away.
A UConn spokesperson said that Marisella died on Thursday, December 8th at age 91. They celebrated her 91st birthday back in June. Coach Auriemma flew to Philadelphia to be with his mother in her final days. He flew back to Storrs on Wednesday and resumed coaching the Huskies on Thursday against Princeton.
Donato Auriemma, Geno's father, died in 1997 during the Big East Tournament. Chris Dailey had taken over the coaching position during this time. But this time, Coach Auriemma resumed coaching three days after her passing.
Coach Auriemma said that he learned how to be a coach from his mother. He has said that "Isn’t every mom a coach in some ways? Doesn’t every mom have a team at home?" She taught him key values, which he took to the court as a coach.
When Geno was seven years old, his mother and father moved from Montella, Italy to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Marisella worked in Norristown, PA at a candy factory and then later at a throw rug factory. Auriemma has said that her constant work ethic and ability to succeed helped shape him into the coach that he is today.