Geno Auriemma UConn Huskies Win Record Bobblehead Collection Unveiled

MILWAUKEE – This morning, the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum unveiled an officially licensed Geno Auriemma UConn Huskies Win Record Bobblehead Collection featuring the legendary UConn women’s basketball coach. The bobbleheads are being released in honor of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer becoming the winningest basketball coach in NCAA history. On Wednesday, November 20th, UConn defeated Fairleigh Dickinson at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, Connecticut to give Coach Auriemma his 1,217th win—the most in college basketball history. The special edition bobbleheads are being produced by the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, an official licensee of the University of Connecticut.

Standing on rectangular base with a grass-like texture and UConn Huskies across the front, the first Auriemma bobblehead is positioned next to a highway sign which reads: “Welcome to Connecticut … Home of the Winningest Coach in College Basketball History … Coach Geno Auriemma.” The Auriemma bobblehead is also holding a basketball adorned with the UConn Huskies logo. Standing on a rectangular base with a red carpet-like texture and his name across the front, the second Auriemma bobblehead is standing next to a framed UConn home jersey with the number 1,217. The third bobblehead is a Geno Auriemma Win Counter that can be adjusted with each UConn victory. Standing on a basketball court base, the Auriemma bobblehead is giving the No. 1 signal and holding a basketball adorned with the UConn Huskies logo.

The bobbleheads, which will be individually numbered to 2,024, are only available through the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum’s Online Store. The bobbleheads are $40 each or $110 for the set of three. There is a flat-rate shipping charge of $8 per order. The bobbleheads are expected to ship in May.

On Wednesday, November 20th before a sellout crowd at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion, Auriemma became the winningest coach in NCAA college basketball history when he earned his 1,217th victory as UConn beat Fairleigh Dickinson, 85-41. The 70-year-old Auriemma, who is in his 40th season leading the Huskies, broke a tie with retired Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer for the most victories all time. Former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski holds the men’s record with 1,202. The Huskies celebrated Auriemma and associate head coach Chris Dailey’s 40 years at the school with more than 60 former players, including former UConn greats Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, Maya Moore and Rebecca Lobo in attendance.

Born in Montella, Italy, and raised in Norristown, Pennsylvania, Auriemma began his journey as the head coach at UConn in 1985. Prior to his arrival, the Huskies had only one winning season. Auriemma has suffered only 162 losses in his career and has had only one losing season – his first one with the Huskies. In 39 seasons, Auriemma has led UConn to 11 NCAA championships, 23 Final Fours, six perfect seasons, 17 undefeated conference seasons, 28 regular season conference titles, 27 conference tournament titles, and separate win streaks of 98 and 111 games. He has won eight national Naismith College Coach of the Year awards and has been named AP National Coach of the Year nine times, WBCA National Coach of the Year seven times and conference Coach of the Year 16 times.

A 2006 inductee to both the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, Auriemma was the head coach of the United States women’s national basketball team from 2009 through 2016. During that time, his teams won the 2010 and 2014 World Championships, and gold medals at the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics, going undefeated in all four tournaments. Under Auriemma, 27 Huskies have been selected as WBCA All-Americans for 48 total recognitions while a Husky has been named National Player of the Year 14 times. Off the court, the Huskies boast a 100 percent graduation rate among four-year student-athletes while regularly participating in community service and outreach.

“We’re excited to unveil these bobbleheads of legendary basketball coach Geno Auriemma in honor of his milestone victory,” National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum co-founder and CEO Phil Sklar said. “One of the most successful coaches in the history of sports, Coach Auriemma’s UConn teams have been the standard of excellence for 40 years. These bobbleheads are a must-have for fans of the Huskies and Coach Geno!”

About the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum:
The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, which is located at 170 S. 1^st. St. in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, opened to the public on February 1^st, 2019. The HOF and Museum also produces high quality, customized bobbleheads for retail sale as well as organizations, individuals and teams across the country. Visit us online and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.