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Nov. 21 (UPI) -- Geno Auriemma led UConn to a win for the 1,217th time, helping the Huskies trounce Fairleigh Dickinson while setting a new record as the all-time winningest coach in college basketball history. The 85-41 lopsided triumph Wednesday in Storrs, Conn., gave the legendary women's basketball coach one more than Tara VanDerveer. The former Stanford women's basketball coach set the previous mark in January, passing former Duke men's basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski.
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"This stuff is hard," Auriemma told reporters. "It wears you out. It really does. It's all fun and games, don't get me wrong. I worked in a steel mill, so I'm not complaining, trust me.
"But emotionally, it takes a lot out of you. ... It's emotionally draining, but it's also tremendously inspiring too, when you see them have success."
Auriemma, 70, won his first game with the Huskies in 1985. He went on to win nearly 90% (1,217-162) of his games over his 40 seasons at the school. Auriemma's tenure has included 35 NCAA tournament appearances, 23 Final Four runs and 11 titles.
The Huskies won at least 30 games in 27 of Auriemma's 39 full seasons. Those 27 seasons all occurred within the last 31 years.
The nine-time National Coach of the Year also coached dozens of All-Americans and some of the greatest players of all time, including: Diana Taurasi, Maya Moore, Sue Bird, Breanna Stewart and Tina Charles, among others.
Bird, Taurasi and Moore were among the former Huskies players in attendance for Wednesday's game.
"UConn took a chance on you," Bird said in a speech. "Players took a chance on you. And what ultimately happened was all of this. ... Who knew that playing hard, playing smart and having fun would get you here?"
Huskies forward Sarah Strong totaled 20 points, eight rebounds and six assists in Wednesday's win. Guard Paige Bueckers chipped in 16 points, nine rebounds and five assists.
The Huskies (4-0) will travel to the Bahamas for a battle with Oregon State (1-4) at 7:30 p.m. EST Monday in Nassau.
