On Monday, UConn women’s basketball head coach Geno Auriemma spoke to reporters for the first time since his heated argument with South Carolina coach Dawn Staley at the Final Four.
“You do things on the spur of the moment sometimes, but they usually come from things that have been building up for some time,” Auriemma said to reporters on UConn’s campus. “When I walked into the locker room afterward … you’re just shaking your head going, five more seconds, you couldn’t keep it in for five more seconds?”
“I just feel like a dumbass for the way it played out. We are all human and we all do dumb sh-t.”
He went on to say that he isn’t going to dwell on the incident and doesn’t worry about how he’s perceived on social media.
“These things that happen, you take them all with a grain of salt, understand them,” he said. “For me, I am at an age now … in terms of how I am going to be viewed, I could give two sh-ts about that.”
The viral encounter occurred near the end of UConn’s 62-48 loss to South Carolina in the Final Four in April. With just 0.1 seconds left on the clock, Auriemma and Staley met at the scorers table for what was expected to be a post-game handshake.
As Auriemma approached, he appeared to confront Staley and the two engaged in a shouting match.
After the game, Auriemma alleged that Staley didn’t come shake his hand on the court before the game and cited that as the reason for the confrontation.
Ultimately, the two legendary coaches spoke privately and cleared things up after the NCAA Tournament ended. Auriemma went on to issue two apologies addressing both Staley personally and women’s basketball as a whole.
James Parker is a sports writer for Ball Exclusives, follow him on X @TheJames_Parker
