Geno Auriemma publicly apologized for his role in Friday night's feud with South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley.
The 12-time national title-winning head coach appeared to be upset with a lack of a proper handshake with Staley before tipoff. While video showed the head coaches shaking hands before tipoff, Auriemma was apparently annoyed by the wait time.
"There's no excuse for how I handled the end of the game vs. South Carolina," Auriemma said in a statement issued through the school. "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."
UConn men's head coach Dan Hurley, meanwhile, has defended his coworker.
"Geno’s helped me so much. The way he handled the whole thing, he’s such a stand-up guy with the statement, and he’s one of the classiest people," Hurley said postgame.
"If anyone should get the benefit of the doubt, in the world of sports, it's Geno Auriemma. He’s truly one of the most authentic, genuine, great people you’ll ever meet in your life."
© Chris Jones-Imagn Images.
Auriemma is known for making headlines, though.
Back in 2013, Auriemma was "furious" with the idea that Brittney Griner could get drafted into the NBA.
Auriemma rips 'sham' idea of NBA drafting Griner
Mark Cuban, then the owner of the Mavericks, said that he would draft her.
"I will take her."
"Right now, I'd lean toward yes, just to see if she can do it," he said. "You never know unless you give somebody a chance."
Griner responded with a tweet: "I would hold my own! Lets do it"
Auriemma was furious with the idea.
"I think it would be a sham," he said. "The fact that a woman could actually play right now in the NBA and compete successfully against the level of play that they have is absolutely ludicrous."
Cuban, meanwhile, defended it.
"We evaluate every draft-eligible player on the planet," Cuban said in an email to USA Today responding to Auriemma's criticism. "The chance of any college graduate selected at the end of the draft making a roster is very, very small. We wouldn't be doing our job if we didn't consider everyone.
"As I told the media yesterday, she would have to excel in workouts to get drafted. I have no problem giving her that opportunity. I hope she gives it a shot.
"Nothing harms an organization or company more than a closed mind."
