UConn's Geno Auriemma issues apology after postgame outburst
Connecticut women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma confronted South Carolina's Dawn Staley after the Huskies' Final Four loss on April 3.
Connecticut men's basketball coach Geno Auriemma issued a statement on Saturday, April 4, apologizing for his post-game conduct after the Huskies' 62-48 loss to South Carolina in the NCAA women's basketball semifinals the night before. "There's no excuse for how I handled the end of the game vs. South Carolina,'' the statement began.
"It's unlike what I do and what our standards are 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, I sincerely want to apologize to them. " The statement, posted on the UConn women's basketball X account, was signed by Auriemma.
The statement came the morning after Auriemma was seen angrily confronting South Carolina coach Dawn Staley at the conclusion of the April 3 game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, as Staley approached apparently to shake his hand. The two could be seen in a heated exchange, as a UConn assistant stepped in to restrain Auriemma. Statement from Head Coach Geno Auriemma pic.