Geno Auriemma wouldn’t be wins leader without his assistant, he says

If it weren’t for Chris Dailey, Geno Auriemma would never be on time. 

Never mind all the wins — 1,217, to be exact — Dailey has been by Auriemma’s side for, the latest of which came Wednesday night and made him the all-time wins leader in Division-I college hoops, one-upping former Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer. 

If it weren’t for for Dailey — or ‘CD,’ as she’s known to Husky players and the UConn faithful — Auriemma probably wouldn’t have even been on time for tipoff of most those wins. 

The Huskies held a reunion-slash-celebration Wednesday for hitting the milestone, a gathering of more than 60 former players that was as much an acknowledgement of Auriemma as it was Dailey. They’ve worked together since Day 1, building UConn from an afterthought to a powerhouse, a feat neither of them anticipated when they took the job before the 1985-86 season. 

‘When we started coaching together, we didn’t have anyone else that we could rely on to help us build what we were trying to build,’ Auriemma said Nov. 15 after he got win No. 1,216 over North Carolina. ‘We didn’t even know what we were trying to build, we were just trying to not finish last in the Big East.

‘We relied on each other for everything. We were the ticket office, the recruiting coordinators, the media people, the coaching people — anything that had to be done, we had to do it. She was very good at handling all that and she still is to this day. I don’t know if you can build something like that without somebody like her. If she wasn’t here, I wouldn’t have lasted this long, I can pretty much guarantee that.’

Dailey, 65, has filled in as head coach 17 times, leading the Huskies to a perfect record in those games. Auriemma joked Friday he is well aware that his lead assistant has a better winning percentage than him. 

But talk to players and they’ll say Dailey’s contribution is far more than occasionally moving over to the first chair or making sure Auriemma isn’t late to important appointments. 

She’s in charge of post players, and UConn has had its share of standouts at that position, from Rebecca Lobo to Tina Charles to Swin Cash to Napheesa Collier to Breanna Stewart. She’s a renowned recruiter, as responsible for luring top talent to Storrs as Auriemma is. And for four decades, she’s been in charge of team-building activities, from scavenger hunts to game nights to cooking competitions. 

‘She’s a big part of the relationship building,’ Lobo told USA TODAY Sports. ‘It’s really about playing for them. She lets him be good at what he’s good at, and their strengths are very different. So many of the details that end up mattering, she’s behind them. A lot of the fabric of what the team needs and what each player needs, while always being focused on the team being bigger than any individual, she really helps foster all that.’

Details are Dailey’s domain. She insists players learn the names of bus drivers and team cooks, harping that it is not just nice to say ‘thank you’ to all the people working behind the scenes, but necessary. She talks about the ‘right’ way to do everything, from approaching practice to walking into the classroom. She checks to make sure players are wearing the right socks and have their shirts tucked in. She’s meticulous — and it leaves a lasting impression.

‘I credit a lot of who I am as a woman to CD,’ Collier said. 

On Tuesday at UConn practice, senior guard Paige Bueckers was asked where Auriemma would be without CD. 

‘Lost,’ Bueckers sighed, laughing. ‘I feel like every man needs a woman to be around and keep him in check. They’re really a great duo because they both bring different things to the table. They both help each other be better. … They have a great relationship where they can challenge each other, hold each other accountable and also support each other. There’s not one without the other.” 

Dailey knows it’s rare for an assistant to be publicly celebrated. 

‘I don’t know of any other head coach that would be as willing to share the limelight as he is,’ Dailey said Tuesday, holding back tears. ‘I just think it says everything about him, and I am appreciative for all the responsibilities he’s given me and the trust that he has in me. Being able to share this with him, in this way, is really special to me.’

As for if they’ll ever split up, insiders can’t imagine UConn, or Auriemma, without Dailey. 

‘CD is a humble servant, and I mean that in the most remarkable way,’ said Swin Cash, who won two national championships when she played for the Huskies. ‘When you’re building an empire, you need everybody to play their role, and she has always been comfortable with hers. There is no one else who could sit in the second chair. 

‘If she leaves, he might as well retire, OK? Because that’s how good they are together — and it’s not gonna work without her.’