Like many immigrants, Geno Auriemma was once a very poor man

… and now he goes for his 12th national title

Life for the Auriemmas in Montella, Avellino in Italy in the 1950s was challenging.

On his website, Geno recounts the difficult part and the most important part of his early years in Italy. "Growing up in Montella with parents Donato and Marsiella and siblings Ferruccio and Anna wasn’t paradise in the traditional sense—running water, heat and electricity were considered luxuries, and the family had no phone, car or television. What they did have, and what has continued to be the foundation of his life and career, was love, honor and loyalty."

The family eventually moved to the United States when Geno was seven-years-old back in 1961 and eventually settled in Norristown, Pa., which had a large Italian-Catholic neighborhood.

However, Geno took charge once in his new country even though his family could speak little English. From his website, "[I]t wasn’t uncommon for 7-year-old Auriemma to help his parents make their mortgage payments or interact with lawyers."

21st Century

Today, he is one of the most successful college basketball coaches in history. His team will battle Mississippi State in the NCAA semifinals tonight in its quest to win the University of Connecticut women's basketball team its 12th national title.

Early years

Auriemma and his wife, Kathy, have raised three children and have some successful businesses in addition to Geno's main job. He has a number of restaurants and a wine business.

However, even as a student and later a coach, the Auriemmas struggled financially. He had first played basketball at Bishop Kenrick High School in Norristown and upon graduation in 1972, entered Montgomery County Junior College. That was where he met Kathy, who was a cheerleader for the basketball team.

Geno later transferred to West Chester University, which was when he started coaching.

However, money was tight. "To make ends meet, he would become a renaissance man of sorts, helping build houses, bartending and working at a local grocery store," his bio on his website notes. He also sold shoes and probably did well there with his persuasive capabilities.

In 1978, Geno and Kathy were married, poor and broke, but madly in love. His wife recalls that he did not have the money to buy a diamond engagement ring. She finally received one many years later in a most romantic moment.

"I didn't get an engagement ring when we got married, and if he had one, I would have asked where he got the money from," she told the Hartford Courant. "On our 15th wedding anniversary, I knew something was up because he is so bad at keeping secrets."

The story notes that his daughter played the violin as he finally presented his wife with a diamond ring.

Coaching

While still at West Chester, Auriemma coached at Bishop McDevitt High School and then was given a job as an assistant coach at St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia in 1977. He was there two years and then coached at Bishop Kenrick for two years.

Finally, in 1981, nine years after graduating from high school, Auriemma was awarded his bachelor's degree in political science from West Chester.

Once he had that degree, then he could pursue some true coaching jobs, and he accepted one at the University of Virginia.

At Virginia, Auriemma's skills as a coach started to blossom. In addition to being the assistant coach for the women's program, Geno was also the recruiting coordinator. According to his bio, "By his third season he had recruited six high school All-Americans, and during the 1984-1985 season the team posted an impressive 24-8 record, won the Atlantic Coast Conference title, ranked No. 10 in the nation and earned a berth to the NCAA tournament. The program, and Auriemma’s reputation for excellence, were on the rise."

UConn

When the women's position at UConn opened in 1985, Auriemma was not immediately sold on the idea. The school had just started women's basketball and had no facilities for them. They would be playing in the Big East, which had some strong women's programs.

And they had no talent on the roster at the time.

In addition, the Aureimmas were living in the Charlottesville area and were finally enjoying a good standard of living. "He enjoyed his position as a Cavalier. He and Kathy had made a home in Virginia with their first child, Jenna, and were expecting a second daughter, Alysa, but his desire to lead a team had begun to bubble to the surface," his bio indicated.

Change for family and college basketball

Then, it all changed, and 32 years later, Connecticut is the consummate women's program in the country, the one where he does not have to recruit the best in the country. They come to him.

Long way from Italy

Those early days in Monetella must seem like another lifetime ago for Geno. The days in Norristown, too.

Like so many who have pursued the American Dream, Geno Auriemma is now living it and enjoying it. Coaching jobs sometimes work out, and sometimes they do not. UConn proved to be in the latter category for Auriemma, and he is now enjoying life as a very successful immigrant.

The women's semifinals are taking placing Friday night, and whether or not the Lady Huskies advance will be decided then. The other game features South Carolina and Stanford.