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Home , Chris Dailey, Debbie Ryan, Diana Taurasi, Geno Auriemma, Jamelle Elliott, Jennifer Rizzotti

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Head Coach ...... 38-42 Alumni on Coach Auriemma ...... 43 Associate Head Coach ...... 44 Q&A with Chris Dailey ...... 45 Assistant Coach ...... 46 Assistant Coach ...... 47 Dir. of Operations Jack Eisenmann ...... 48 36088_UCONN_37-48.qxd 11/5/2004 11:30 AM Page 38

HEAD COACH GENO AURIEMMA

eno Auriemma has redefined the The Huskies tied the NCAA record for meaning of success in college consecutive home court wins at 69 straight Gwomen's basketball in his 19 home games, won the BIG EAST Regular years as head coach of the University of Season Title for the 11th consecutive sea- Connecticut. son and notched their fifth consecutive 30- On the court, his success includes five win season and their 10th in the last 11 national championships and complete years. dominance in the . Senior standout was Off the court, success means a flawless named Most Outstanding Player of the graduation rate and one of the most Final Four for the second consecutive sea- beloved sports team in the country. son and was also honored as the Naismith He currently ranks as the winningest National Player of the Year in addition to active coach in terms of winning percent- being the recipient of the Honda Award age at .838 and is the first coach in women's and the Award. basketball history to guide a team to five Other accolades for the Huskies in GENO AURIEMMA consecutive Final Four appearances. 2003-04 included Barbara Turner earning Auriemma is a five-time national coach- All-BIG EAST Second Team recognition HEAD COACH of-the-year and has been named the BIG and being named the Cleveland Sports EAST coach-of-the-year six times, includ- Alliance Athlete of the Year. 20th Season ing the 2002-03 award. was a third-team All-BIG EAST choice, His 19-year overall record stands at 532- while Liz Sherwood was named to the BIG Overall: 532-103 (.838/19 yrs.) 103 (.838), making him first all-time among EAST All-Freshman Team. NCAA Tournament: 53-11 (.828/16 yrs.) active Division I coach- es in winning percent- age and the second fastest coach overall to GENO AURIEMMA YEAR-BY-YEAR eclipse the 500-win Year School W/L Pct. NCAA Tournament Finish mark. 1985-86 Connecticut 12-15 .444 The 2003-04 season 1986-87 Connecticut 14-13 .519 was a historical one - 1987-88 Connecticut 17-11 .607 even for the tradition- 1988-89 #Connecticut* 24-6 .800 NCAA First Round rich Connecticut pro- 1989-90 #Connecticut 25-6 .806 NCAA Second Round 1990-91 #Connecticut* 29-5 .853 NCAA Final Four Semifinals gram - as it became only 1991-92 Connecticut 23-11 .676 NCAA Second Round the second program in 1992-93 Connecticut 18-11 .621 NCAA First Round NCAA history to win 1993-94 #Connecticut* 30-3 .936 NCAA Final Eight three consecutive 1994-95 #Connecticut* 35-0 1.000 NCAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS national titles. 1995-96 #Connecticut* 34-4 .895 NCAA Final Four Semifinals The road to their 1996-97 #Connecticut* 33-1 .971 NCAA Final Eight third straight title was a 1997-98 #Connecticut* 34-3 .919 NCAA Final Eight bumpy one at times for 1998-99 #Connecticut* 29-5 .853 NCAA Regional Semifinals the Huskies, but with 1999-00 #Connecticut* 36-1 .973 NCAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS Auriemma's leadership 2000-01 #Connecticut* 32-3 .914 NCAA Final Four Semifinals the team never wavered 2001-02 #Connecticut* 39-0 1.000 NCAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS from achieving their 2002-03 #Connecticut 37-1 .973 NCAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS ultimate goal despite a 2003-04 #Connecticut 31-4 .886 NCAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS few detours along the TOTALS 19 YEARS 532-103 .838 FIVE NATIONAL TITLES way. #- BIG EAST Regular Season Champions, *- BIG EAST Tournament Champions 38 2004-05 UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT WOMEN’S BASKETBALL MEDIA GUIDE 36088_UCONN_37-48.qxd 11/5/2004 11:30 AM Page 39

HEAD COACH GENO AURIEMMA

The 2002-03 season, despite a handful of newcomers, mir- Kodak All-American award and was named an rored Auriemma teams of the past. Auriemma's squad contin- First Team All-American for her outstanding play and leader- ued the program’s winning tradition by bringing home UConn's ship during UConn's 37-1 run through the 2002-03 champi- fourth women's basketball national championship, and also onship season. broke the NCAA Division I women's record for most consec- utive victories with 70-straight. Connecticut broke the previous record of 54 set by Louisiana Tech with its 55th-straight win on January 18, 2003, versus Georgetown in the Hartford Civic THE AURIEMMA FILE . Naismith National Coach of the Year For the fourth time in UConn history, the Huskies finished 1994-95, 1996-97, 1999-2000, 2001-02 the regular season undefeated with a perfect 29-0 record. They went on to capture UConn's 10th straight BIG EAST regular Associated Press National Coach of the Year season title, 13th overall, and continued their winning ways into 1994-95, 1996-97, 1999-2000, 2002-03 the postseason making their seventh Final Four appearance. Women’s Basketball Coaches Association After two competitive games in the Final Four, the Huskies National Coach of the Year earned their fourth NCAA Women's Basketball Championship 1996-97,1999-00, 2001-02 and became only the third school to do so in back-to-back years. Junior Diana Taurasi was named the 2003 Final Four Most Victor Award 1994-95, 1995-96, 1999-2000 Outstanding Player, while freshman Ann Strother was named to the Final Four All-Tournament team. It was the first time in BIG EAST Coach of the Year women's or men's basketball history that a program earned the 1988-89, 1994-95, 1996-97, 1999-2000, 2001-02, 2002-03 national championship without a senior on its roster. Accolades for the 2002-03 season continued to pour in. Eight Olympians (Russian Olympic Team, 2000), Auriemma was named the BIG EAST Coach of the Year as (2004), (2004), (1996), Rashidat Sadiq well as the United States Basketball Writer's Association (Nigerian Olympic Team 2004), (2000-alternate), (USBWA) Women's Basketball Coach of the Year and Diana Taurasi (2004), (1996-alternate, 2000) Associated Press Coach of SIX National Players of the Year Rebecca Lobo (1995), (1996), Kara Wolters the Year. (1997), Sue Bird (2002), Diana Taurasi (2003, 2004) Taurasi gar- nered Player of 10 First Team All-Americans the Year honors Svetlana Abrosimova (three times), , Sue Bird, from the Swin Cash, Rebecca Lobo (two times), Jennifer Rizzotti (two times), Nykesha Sales (two times), Kara Wolters (two times), Associated , Diana Taurasi (three times) Press, USBWA and Naismith Two CoSIDA National Academic All-Americans and earned the Rebecca Lobo (1994, 1995), Jennifer Rizzotti (1996) FIVE United States National Team performers and the NCAA Rebecca Lobo (1995), Kara Wolters (1994, 1997, 2000) Honda Award Sue Bird (2004), Swin Cash (2004), Diana Taurasi (2004) for the nation's most outstand- 15 USA Basketball participants ing women's Rebecca Lobo, Kara Wolters, Jennifer Rizzotti, Carla Berube, Kris Lamb, Nykesha Sales, Kerry Bascom, Paige Sauer, Shea basketball play- Ralph, Sue Bird, , Diana Taurasi, Ashley er. Taurasi Battle, Jessica Moore, Ann Strother earned her sec- ond straight

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HEAD COACH GENO AURIEMMA

OPP. W L PCT. Marist 2 0 1.000 AURIEMMA 3 1 .500 Auriemma's 2001-02 squad recorded the second undefeated ALL-TIME VS. OPPONENTS Miami 17 5 .773 season in program history with a 39-0 mark and registered Michigan State 1 0 1.000 Minnesota 1 0 1.000 OPP. W L PCT. UConn's third national championship and sixth Final Four Morgan State 1 0 1.000 appearances. Auriemma's teams also won the 1995 and 2000 Alabama 2 0 1.000 Nebraska 1 0 1.000 national titles. Arizona 1 0 1.000 New Hampshire 1 1 .500 Arkansas 1 0 1.000 Featuring Kodak All-Americans Sue Bird, Swin Cash and Niagara 1 0 1.000 Auburn 3 0 1.000 UNC Charlotte 1 0 1.000 Diana Taurasi, the 2001-02 Huskies posted an NCAA record- Ball State 1 1 .500 North Carolina 2 1 .667 tying 39 wins and a 35.4 point average margin of victory, anoth- College 30 7 .806 North Carolina St. 4 2 .666 er NCAA record. His team also earned its 12th BIG EAST reg- Boston University 3 0 1.000 Northeastern 3 1 .750 Northern Arizona 1 0 1.000 ular season title and 11th BIG EAST tournament title as the Brown 1 0 1.000 California 1 1 .500 Northwestern 1 0 1.000 Huskies made their 14th straight NCAA appearance. Cal Northridge 1 0 1.000 Notre Dame 15 2 .882 The 1999-2000 national championship season included a Cal Santa Barbara 1 0 1.000 Oklahoma 5 0 1.000 Old Dominion 5 1 .833 then-school-record 19-straight weeks ranked No. 1 in the Central Connecticut 4 0 1.000 Oregon State 1 0 1.000 Clemson 2 1 .667 national polls and a final record of 36-1. Penn State 4 0 1.000 UConn captured the program's first national title in 1994-95, Colgate 2 0 1.000 Pepperdine 3 0 1.000 Colorado State 1 0 1.000 when Auriemma led the Huskies to a perfect 35-0 record. Pittsburgh 29 4 .879 Dartmouth 1 0 1.000 Providence 28 10 .737 UConn was only the second team in Division I women's bas- Denver 1 0 1.000 Purdue 1 1 .500 ketball history to go undefeated on the way to the national Drexel 2 0 1.000 1 0 1.000 championship. The Huskies became the first unbeaten team in Duke 2 1 .667 Quinnipiac 1 0 1.000 NCAA history (all divisions, men or women) to win 35 games Duquesne 1 0 1.000 Rhode Island 7 0 1.000 Eastern Washington 1 0 1.000 Rutgers 14 1 .933 in a season. Fairfield 7 0 1.000 St. Francis (PA) 2 0 1.000 Under Auriemma's direction, UConn ranked second nation- Florida 1 0 1.000 St. John's 29 7 .806 St. Joseph's (PA) 3 1 .750 ally in Division I victories in the 1990's (Jan. 1, 1990-Dec. 31, Florida International 1 0 1.000 St. Peter's (NJ) 1 0 1.000 Florida State 1 0 1.000 1999) with 290 total wins. The Huskies were also second in the San Diego State 0 1 .000 nation in total winning percentage (.860) in the decade as well Fordham 1 0 1.000 San Francisco 2 0 1.000 George Mason 1 0 1.000 as establishing a BIG EAST record for conference victories Seton Hall 36 2 .947 George Washington 4 0 1.000 South Florida 1 0 1.000 (158). Georgetown 31 3 .912 Southern California 1 0 1.000 After inheriting a Husky program that had just one winning Georgia 2 1 .750 Southern Mississippi 1 0 1.000 season in its 11-year history, Auriemma has posted 17 winning Georgia State 1 0 1.000 Stanford 2 3 .400 seasons since arriving at UConn in August of 1985. The Hampton 1 0 1.000 Syracuse 24 6 .800 Hartford 5 0 1.000 Tennessee 11 6 .647 Huskies now also hold every BIG EAST single game and sin- Harvard 1 0 1.000 Tennessee Christian 1 0 1.000 gle season home court attendance record. Hawaii 2 1 .666 Texas 1 0 1.000 Holy Cross 10 1 .909 Toledo 1 0 1.000 UCLA 2 0 1.000 Howard 1 0 1.000 UNLV 1 0 1.000 Idaho State 1 0 1.000 U.S. International 0 1 .000 Illinois 3 0 1.000 Vanderbilt 2 2 .500 Iona 4 0 1.000 Vermont 2 0 1.000 Iowa 4 2 .667 Villanova 26 10 .722 Iowa State 1 1 .500 Virginia 2 2 .500 Kansas 2 0 1.000 Va. Commonwealth 1 0 1.000 Kentucky 2 1 .667 Virginia Tech 7 1 .875 Lafayette 2 0 1.000 Wake Forest 2 0 1.000 La Salle 0 3 .000 Washington 2 0 1.000 Lehigh 3 0 1.000 West Virginia 12 0 1.000 2 0 1.000 Western Kentucky 1 0 1.000 LSU 1 0 1.000 Wright State 2 0 1.000 Louisiana Tech 5 2 .714 Xavier 1 0 1.000 Louisville 0 1 .000 Yale 1 0 1.000 Loyola (MD) 1 0 1.000 Maine 3 0 1.000 Manhattan 1 0 1.000

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HEAD COACH GENO AURIEMMA

Since 1988-89, the port and enthusiasm is at an all-time high. UConn was second first season the nationally in total home attendance for all Division I women's Huskies earned a BIG programs in 2003-04, attracting 201,521 fans for 15 home dates EAST regular season in Harry A. Gampel Pavilion and the Hartford Civic Center. championship, UConn The Huskies have boasted an advance sellout of every game in ranks No. 1 among all Gampel Pavilion and the Hartford Civic Center dating back to BIG EAST teams in November 1999. league regular season Prior to taking the UConn position, Auriemma served as the wins (233-22, a .908 primary assistant women's coach at the winning percentage). under head coach from 1981-85. He helped lead Coupled with the Cavaliers to the Atlantic Coast Conference championship in UConn's 40-4 record 1984. in BIG EAST Before his Virginia position, Auriemma was assistant Tournament action women's basketball coach at St. Joseph's University in since 1989, the with then-head coach (now Ohio State Huskies have posted women's basketball head coach). He also coached boys' basket- an impressive overall ball at his high school alma mater, Bishop Kenrick High School mark of 273-26 (.911) in Norristown, Pa., from 1979-81. against BIG EAST Auriemma has found success even beyond the college competition in the past coaching ranks due to his involvement with USA Basketball. In 15 years. the summer of 2000, Auriemma represented the United States The development of national caliber student-athletes has at the in Sydney, Australia, as an assistant coach been Auriemma's forte during his UConn coaching tenure. of the gold medal winning Olympic Team. Every recruited freshman that has played for Auriemma at That same summer, Auriemma led the 2000 USA Women's Connecticut and completed her eligibility at UConn has Basketball Junior World Championship team to a gold medal in obtained her undergraduate degree. the COPABA Impressively, since the 1991-92 season, 26 of UConn's Junior World Cup AURIEMMA HEAD-TO-HEAD starters - 16 different players - have been on the Dean's List. Qualifying Among these 16 players are four of the most highly Tournament in VS. THE BIGEAST acclaimed women's basketball players ever - Rebecca Lobo, . Jennifer Rizzotti, Kara Wolters and Sue Bird. All four of these Auriemma and the UConn vs. ...... 32-8 student-athletes earned Associated Press National Player of the squad advanced to UConn vs. Georgetown...... 32-3 Year honors and won the Wade Trophy and Honda Broderick the 2001 FIBA UConn vs. Miami ...... 18-5 Awards. Most recently, Diana Taurasi joined the elite four by Junior World UConn vs. Notre Dame ...... 15-3 being named a consensus National Player of the Year in 2002- Championship for UConn vs. Pittsburgh ...... 30-4 03. women held in the UConn vs. Providence...... 29-10 Auriemma has coached 10 First Team Kodak All- in UConn vs. Rutgers ...... 16-1 Americans, with the most recent selections of Bird, Cash and July of 2001, and UConn vs. St. John’s ...... 30-7 Taurasi. This includes 11 consecutive seasons (1993-2004) returned with the where at least one UConn player earned Kodak All-America bronze. In April of UConn vs. Seton Hall ...... 37-2 honors - a total of 18 honors, with Taurasi earning her third 1996, he was co- UConn vs. Syracuse ...... 25-6 honor in 2004. head coach of the UConn vs. Villanova ...... 26-11 UConn's home court record also stands as one of the most National Senior UConn vs. Virginia Tech* ...... 7-0 impressive in the nation. In Auriemma's tenure, UConn is 282- All-Stars when the UConn vs. West Virginia...... 14-0 28 at home against collegiate opponents, including 14-1 in All-Stars met the TOTAL...... 311-60 (.838) 2003-04, for a sparkling .910 winning percentage. United States * - Joined BIG EAST in 2000-2001 By building such a dynamic program, Huskymania fan sup- National Team. Note: Records include postseason games

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HEAD COACH GENO AURIEMMA

During the summer of 1996, he served as coach of the USA Basketball Select Team in Colorado Springs, Colo. In January of 1995, Auriemma was named an assistant coach of the USA World University Games Women's Basketball Team, which played in Fukuoka, Japan, in the summer of 1995; due to per- sonal conflicts, however, he had to relinquish that position. He also served as head coach of the West Team at the 1993 U.S. Olympic Festival in San Antonio, Texas. In the summer of 2002, Auriemma was selected as a member of the inaugural induction class to the New England Basketball Hall of Fame. In addition to his coaching duties, Auriemma serves on sev- eral national basketball committees. He was a four-year member of the Kodak All-America Selection Committee and was named chair of that committee in January of 1992. He has also been a voting member of the USA TODAY/WBCA Top 25 Poll. An accomplished speaker, Auriemma also is involved in numerous regional and state charitable and educational efforts. For the last seven years, Auriemma has been the chair of Why- Me of New England, a fund-raising organization for breast can- cer research, and also has served as the State of Connecticut honorary chair for the American Heart Association. In the fall of 1993, Auriemma was elected into the National Mortar Board academic honor society for his outstanding con- tributions to UConn academics and for community service. Auriemma currently serves as co-chair of the Connecticut Arthritis Foundation. In May of 1994, Auriemma was awarded the prestigious UConn Club Outstanding Contribution Award Geno Auriemma enters 2004-05 with the best winning percentage of any active coach in NCAA Division I for his service and commitment to Husky athletics. women’s basketball. In tribute to the Huskies' first NCAA National Championship, and for his commitment to intercollegiate ath- letes and service in the community, Auriemma received two spe- cial awards in 1995. He was one of four recipients of the 1995 Center for the Study of Sport in Society "National Student-Athlete Day Giant Steps Award", presented in Boston. He was also honored with "Geno Auriemma Day" at the National Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass., on August 9, 1995. Auriemma has given back to the university as well. In November 1998, he and his wife Kathy gave a $125,000 gift to the University of Connecticut Library. Auriemma is a 1981 graduate of West Chester with a B.A. in political science. He resides in Manchester, Conn., with Kathy and their three children: Jenna (20), Alyssa (18) and Michael (16).

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UCONN ALUMNI ON GENO AURIEMMA

Kerry Bascom-Poliquin ‘90 Wendy Davis ‘92 “Coach Auriemma has the unique ability “Coach Auriemma is one of the reasons to tap into your full potential and make that I am a college coach today. He has you the best player you can be. His hard taught me how to build relationships with work and complete dedication to the play- student-athletes, which is a big part of ers and the program makes UConn an being a successful coach. I have kept close unbelievable experience.” ties with UConn and know that I can still call the coaching staff any day, at any time, and they will always be there for me.”

Rebecca Lobo ‘95 “I have had the privilege of being coached by some of the biggest names in women’s basketball; however, no coach has made a bigger impact on my life, both on and off the court, than Coach Auriemma. He challenges each student- athlete to gain something from their bas- ketball experience and apply it to life after college. He got the most out of me as a player and taught me important lessons that carry into my daily routine. A young woman is very fortunate to have the chance to join the Connecticut family.”

Debbie (Baer) Fiske ‘92 “Coach Auriemma and his staff create a secure, safe and comfortable playing atmosphere. They run a top-ranked program with a winning attitude which carries beyond UConn. If I had a daughter, I would love for her to play for Kathy (Ferrier) Gibson ‘93 someone like Coach Auriemma someday.” “My four years at the University of Connecticut were filled with great friendships and memorable experi- ences. Coach Auriemma provided me with opportunities, discipline Peggy (Walsh) Myers ‘86 and character that has extended far beyond the basketball court. My “I had the great privilege of playing for coach during his first thanks to him for giving me the year of coaching at UConn, and it was an incredible experience. chance to play for UConn, the best I now have the privilege to work for him and have watched him program in the country.” develop into one of the top coaches in the nation. Through it all he has been my coach, my boss, but most of all my friend.”

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ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH CHRIS DAILEY

ssociate head coach Chris mater as top assistant under head coach Dailey is in her 20th season with from 1983-85. A the Connecticut basketball pro- In 1992, Chris was inducted into the gram. Dailey has been instrumental in Lady Knight Hall of teaming with head coach Geno Fame as a member of the 1982 National Auriemma to build UConn into a nation- Championship Team. During the 1995- al power. She is the coordinator of 96 academic year, she was one of eight Connecticut’s highly successful recruiting alumnae of Rutgers' Douglass College efforts. featured in the college's national fund- Under her direction, Connecticut’s raising campaign. In the winter of 2002, recruiting base spans the nation and the Dailey was inducted into the prestigious globe. Arriving at Connecticut in the New Jersey Sports Writers Association summer of 1985 along with Auriemma, Hall of Fame alongside the likes of Dailey served as primary assistant coach Bobby Valentine, Jorge Posada, Andre from 1985-88. In September of 1988, Tippitt and Carl Banks. She also was hon- she was promoted to associate head ored with the NJSWA “Distinguished coach. Service to Basketball” award. Most CHRIS DAILEY In Auriemma's absence during the recently in June of 2002, Dailey received entire 1997 BIG EAST Conference the Clare Award from the Saint Tournament from March 1-4 (due to the Franciscan Life Center which is given to ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH death of his father, Donato Auriemma), a woman who exemplifies leadership, Dailey served as head coach, leading commitment to athletics and service to 20th Season Connecticut to its fourth consecutive the community. BIG EAST Tournament Championship. In addition to her coaching duties, This marked the second time that a Dailey is involved in a number of region- Dailey-directed UConn team earned the al charitable efforts as an honorary chair BIG EAST Tournament title. UConn's and as a noted speaker. In the summer of 1989 team won its first league tourney 2000, Dailey was a recipient of the 2000 crown under her direction (while Girl Scouts Women of Merit Award, Auriemma served a suspension for a given to women who best exemplify the scheduling error). qualities of a girl scout. She served four Dailey is a 1982 graduate of Rutgers years as honorary chair of the with a bachelor’s degree in health and Connecticut chapter of the Multiple physical education. She received her mas- Sclerosis Associations' annual "Walk-a- ter's degree from Connecticut in educa- thon". In October 1997, she was named tional administration. A native of New the Connecticut Trails Counsel 1997 Brunswick, N.J., Dailey is no stranger to Woman of Distinction by the Girl Scouts collegiate basketball success. She was a Association. four-year forward (from 1978-82) for the The last several years, she has also nationally-ranked Rutgers Scarlet been involved as the honorary chair to Knights. Dailey served as a team captain the following organizations: Food as a junior and senior, and, as a senior in Allergy Network, March of Dimes- 1981-82, she helped lead her Rutgers Women in Sports Celebration, Camp squad to the AIAW Division I National Courant and the Manchester Area Con- Championship, as the Scarlet Knights ference of Churches. defeated Texas 83-77. During her four Dailey is a 1977 graduate of St. Peter’s years at Rutgers, the team compiled a High School, New Brunswick, N.J., record of 108-23 (.824). where she earned All-State basketball Prior to Connecticut, Dailey served as honors and was inducted into the the Cornell assistant basketball coach school's Hall of Fame. She resides in (1982-83) before returning to her alma Ellington, Conn.

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Q&A WITH CHRIS DAILEY

Q: Other than the winning tradition the UConn women’s Q: What do you look for in a student-athlete that makes basketball program enjoys, what are some of the other you feel like they would be a good fit for the Connecticut selling points you make potential players aware of during women’s basketball program? the recruiting process? A: “Due to the way recruiting is set up, the first thing you see A: “I think the biggest selling point is the people. I am a firm is the players skill level on the basketball court so you begin by believer that the people make the program. I also feel like we watching their athletic ability and basketball skills. We also pay have a tremendous balance between academics and athletics. close attention to the way they interact with their teammates We have created an environment where our players can do real- and coaches as well as how they handle adversity and success ly well both academically and compete at the highest level ath- during games. Then you get to talking to their teammates, letically for national championships on the basketball court. I coaches, teachers and you find out a lot about the student-ath- think we have proven that doing well in both areas are not lete as a person. We use all this to try to get a total picture to mutually exclusive and that you can be very successful in the determine if they are a good fit for our program.” classroom and be the best at what you do on the court. I think that balance is what has allowed our players to be successful as Q: What are some of you favorite moments during your student-athletes at UConn and beyond.” first 19 years at the University of Connecticut? A: “I think the first time you do anything it always stands out. Q: You have had the opportunity over your career to see The first time we beat Villanova at the Field House was an out- the progression of women’s over the standing moment for our program. The first time we won the years, discuss some of the changes you have seen in the BIG EAST Tournament, our first NCAA Tournament berth game over that time. and obviously winning our first national championship was A: “Obviously the athletic ability of the players has improved special. I think those firsts are moments that stand out from a dramatically. Now it’s okay to be an athlete, which is a great basketball standpoint. After you do it the first time the feeling thing for women because the opportunities are so much greater is different and I think that is what makes the first time you do then when I was in college. When I was in school it was just something so special.” starting to be accepted that women can be great athletes, but we were still viewed as jocks. We wouldn’t even wear sweats around because we didn’t want anyone to know we played bas- ketball. We wanted to have a separate identity. It wasn’t cool then to be an athlete but over the last 20 years more girls are playing, more girls have the opportunity to go to college and it’s okay to be an athlete when you are on the court or on the field and be a women when you are off it. The growth that I have seen in the acceptance of the game, the attendance, the opportunities for women both during and after college are just tremendous. We just didn’t have that back then. So many women who were very talented 10 years ago just did- n’t have the same opportunities that today’s players have. The exciting thing is that today’s players are providing anoth- er foundation for future women-athletes and the sky is the limit in what they will be able to do. That is very exciting.”

Q: What are the first impressions of recruits when they step on the campus for the first time? A: “They like the size and feel like it’s a quintessential college campus in terms of the environment. It’s big enough to offer 100 majors but its small enough so you don’t feel like just a number. I really feel like it is the best of both worlds. It’s def- initely a college environment and I know our players enjoy that.”

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ASSISTANT COACH TONYA CARDOZA

n her 11th year as assistant coach and No. 7, rebounds (667). is Tonya Cardoza, a former Kodak Cardoza, a native of Roxbury, I Honorable Mention All-American Mass., was an All-America and All- at the University of Virginia. State basketball performer at Boston Since arriving at Connecticut at the English High School. In 1997, she was start of the 1994-95 season, Cardoza inducted into the Boston English Hall has helped lead the Huskies to a 340- of Fame, only the second woman to 22 record over the last 10 years. The receive the honor. team has captured all five of its nation- al championships under Cardoza’s leadership, plus seven trips to the NCAA Final Four. In BIG EAST play, the team has won eight conference tournament championships and 10 regular season titles. TONYA CARDOZA Upon graduation from Virginia in 1991 with a degree in anthropology, Cardoza played professional basketball ASSISTANT COACH in Segovia, for several months in 1992. At Virginia, she was a four-year 11th Season letterwinner and helped lead the Cavaliers to four consecutive NCAA National Tournament appearances. In 1991, Cardoza led Virginia to a 61-55 victory over UConn in the NCAA Tournament Final Four semifinals with team-highs of 16 points and three steals. Virginia then lost to Tennessee in the NCAA Championship game, 70- 67, in overtime. As a senior in 1990-91, Tonya led Virginia in scoring (15.5 ppg) and tied for the rebounding lead (6.1 rpg) while earning the following honors: Kodak Honorable Mention All-America; Kodak First Team All- District III; First Team All-Atlantic Coast Conference; NCAA Final Four All-Tournament Team; and NCAA Regional All-Tournament Team. She also was a First Team All-ACC pick in 1988-89. She played 121 games in her Cavalier career, and upon graduation ranked as follows in the UVA career record book: No. 2, blocks (110); No. 3, steals (375); No. 6, points (1,622);

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ASSISTANT COACH JAMELLE ELLIOTT

amelle Elliott, a 1996 UConn point and 1,000 milestones. graduate and key member of She is among the UConn career leaders J Connecticut’s 1995 NCAA for games played with 135, never miss- National Championship (35-0) team, ing a single game in her four collegiate is entering her eighth season as an years. In her four years as a player, assistant coach at her alma mater. UConn posted an overall record of Building on her success as a player 117-18. for the Huskies, Elliott has helped After graduating from Connecticut guide UConn to a 238-17 record in with a degree in business administra- her seven years as an assistant coach tion, Elliott went on to earn her grad- at Connecticut. The team has earned uate degree in sports management at five consecutive NCAA Final Four UConn in 1997. trips and captured four national titles. In her senior year, she was honored In conference action, the team has by the UConn Club as its won the BIG EAST regular season “Outstanding Senior Athlete”. She JAMELLE ELLIOTT title in each of her seven seasons was also named the Most Outstanding while also claiming five tournament Player at the Hartford Courant titles. Connecticut Classic and was a mem- ASSISTANT COACH Elliott, a four-year letterwinner, ber of the 1995 NCAA Mideast helped build the UConn and Regional All-Tournament Team. 8th Season finished her career ranked No. 2 Elliott, a native of Washington, among UConn’s all-time rebounding D.C., was named to the Washington leaders (1,054), No. 5 in BIG EAST Post All-Metro Team as well as being career rebounding (558) and No. 11 in named Scholar-Athlete at H.D. UConn career scoring (1,387). Elliott Woodson High School. was also only the second player in UConn history to surpass the 1,000

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DIRECTOR OF BASKETBALL OPERATIONS JACK EISENMANN

ack Eisenmann is entering his fourth season as the Director of J Women's Basketball Operations at the University of Connecticut. A native of Norristown, Pa., Eisenmann graduated from St. Mary's University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and went on to earn his Master's Degree in Social Sciences from the University of Ottawa in 1979. He played basketball for St. Mary's during the 1971-1972 season and continued his career at the University of Ottawa from 1976 to 1979. Prior to joining the UConn staff, he spent 12 seasons as the head coach of the JACK EISENMANN men's basketball program at the DIRECTOR OF University of Ottawa. BASKETBALL OPERATIONS 4th Season

48 2004-05 UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT WOMEN’S BASKETBALL MEDIA GUIDE