UConn’s Auriemma: ‘Recruiting Enthusiastic Kids Is Harder than It’s Ever Been’

Legendary University of Connecticut women’s coach Geno Auriemma had some harsh words this weekend for today’s generation of recruits.

Auriemma said it is getting harder and harder to find “enthusiastic kids” who are not all about themselves.

“I don’t want to sound like an old guy who’s been coaching a long time. So it’s going to come across like that, I’m sure. But recruiting enthusiastic kids is harder than it’s ever been because every kid watches TV and they watch the NBA or they watch Major League Baseball or they watch the NFL –whatever sport they watch — WNBA, doesn’t matter, and what they see is people just being really cool. So they think that’s how they’re going to act. And they haven’t even figured out which foot to use as a pivot foot and they’re going to act like they’re really good players,” Auriemma told reporters.

“I’d rather lose than watch kids play the way some kids play. I’d rather lose. And they’re allowed to get away with just whatever and they’re always thinking about themselves,” he added. “’Me, me, me, me. I didn’t score so why should I be happy? I’m not getting enough minutes, why should I be happy?’ That’s the world that we live in today, unfortunately. Kids check the scoreboard sometimes because they’re going to get yelled at if they don’t score enough points. Don’t get me started.”

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