The path to what would be an historical second straight unbeaten national championship and the seventh overall for the Huskies was laid out last night as the team watched with excitement and anticipation inside the team’s locker room. But when coach Geno Auriemma walked into his office to check his e-mail following the Selection Special he was greeted with sad news – Seton Hall coach Phyllis Mangina had stepped down after 25 seasons.
Auriemma and Mangina were hired the same year. Their career paths have, obviously, taken off in entirely different directions. That, however, has not altered the way Auriemma’s thoughts of his colleague and someone he considers to be a friend in a success-based business.
“I’ve got to give her a call (today),’’ Auriemma said. “It’s kind of a sad time for me. We both got our jobs at the exact same time. So I’ve known her for 25 years and she’s a great, great person, really passionate about her job and her kids and Seton Hall. She played there. So it must have been really, really hard for her to do this. It must have been a real gut wrenching decision for her to walk away from this. But there comes a time when you just say, `Hey, I can’t do this anymore.’ And that must have been the time for Phyllis.
“(Villanova’s) Harry Perretta and I are the only coaches left now when I started coaching here in the Big East. That makes you think, `Wow. How many people have passed through our league in 25 years? How many people have come and gone? Won a lot of games? Not won a lot of games?’ You’re constantly reminded, and every time you’re reminded how long you’ve been here you’re probably also reminded, `Yo, that’s going to be you someday soon.’ People will be reading that in the e-mail: `Geno Auriemma out as UConn coach. Forced out.’ Lose in the regional finals. Out.’’
Seton Hall finished 9-21 this season, including 1-15 in the Big East. Mangina was 352-368 during her tenure. The Pirates made back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances in 1994 (Sweet 16) and 1995, but had not been back since then. The Pirates did compete in the WNIT in 2003, 2004 and 2007.
“I will forever cherish my time as the women’s basketball coach at Seton Hall,’’ Mangina said in a statement. “I have had the chance to develop so many special relationships over the years, and I could not be prouder of the success my players and I have shared on the court and in the classroom.’’
Mangina’s departure also provided Auriemma with a reminder of how difficult coaching can be at other schools across the country. He has had the luxury of coaching numerous elite players, which has yielded incredible success during his 25 seasons at UConn.
Auriemma will enter the NCAA tournament with a record of 729-122 (.857) and standing just six wins away from solidifying a fourth unbeaten season. He is 71-15 in the NCAA tournament through his first 21 appearances, including 10 trips to the Final Four.
“Coaches live under this constant scrutiny,’’ Auriemma said. “When we went to go play Syracuse (men’s basketball coach Jim) Boeheim and I went to go get some lunch and we were sitting there. And he was talking about the stresses of the job and how tough coaching Division I men’s basketball is and how tough it is in our conference. And I was trying to explain to him, `Yeah, this is a pressure packed business.’ And he looked at me … `Well, not for me. For everybody else. I’m not speaking for me.’ He goes, `Right. What kind of pressure do you have? Where to go to lunch? What to order? What do you have to worry about.’ I think about it. I’ve been really fortunate because this isn’t the way it is in the real world. Real life coaching is not the way it is here at Connecticut. I think we’ve been spoiled as coaches here because of the players that we get and the environment that we get to do it in. When you look back you look at all the people that aren’t as fortunate to work in places like this or have the players that I have and they’re constantly worried about their jobs, constantly worried about their future. That’s all they think about. That’s all they talk about. (DePaul coach Doug) Bruno was on the phone the other day. `How many days did you give your kids off?’ I said, `We took Wednesday, Thursday and Friday off. What are you going to get ready to do? `I’m getting ready to practice.’ And I go, `Why?’ `Why do you think?’ And he hangs up. Because he’s fighting to get into the NCAA tournament. `You’re worried about when the parade is. And I’m fighting to get in the NCAA tournament.’ So sometimes we don’t live in the same world.’’
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