Geno Auriemma apologizes for behavior after heated exchange with Dawn Staley
PHOENIX — UConn coach Geno Auriemma issued an apology on Saturday morning after his heated exchange with South Carolina coach Dawn Staley at the end of the Huskies’ Final Four loss. “There’s no excuse for how I handled the end of the game vs. South Carolina,” Auriemma said in the statement released by UConn.
“It’s unlike what I do and what our standard is here at Connecticut. I want to apologize to the staff and the team at South Carolina. It was uncalled for in how I reacted.
The story should be how well South Carolina played, and I don’t want my actions to detract from that. I’ve had a great relationship with their staff, and I sincerely want to apologize to them. ” In the final seconds of the 62-48 loss in Phoenix, Auriemma approached Staley as the two walked toward midcourt for the post-game handshake when Auriemma stopped Staley to complain.
She appeared to take exception to his comments, which he later said were a complaint about her not shaking his hand during coaches introductions before the game. This story will be updated. This article originally appeared in The Athletic .
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