Geno Auriemma won't be in the building for the start of what could be UConn's run to a twelfth national championship in women's basketball.
UConn says the legendary head coach tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday, and will be in quarantine through March 24th. The school's medical staff cleared his team and coaching staff, however, and they leave Tuesday for the NCAA Tournament in Texas.
Auriemma says he has no symptoms. He's had both doses of a COVID vaccine, but the second dose came too recently to protect him from contracting the virus.
He believes, though, the vaccine has built his strength to fight it. "I feel great," says Auriemma, "I might be really, really, really sick right now and I feel really, really good. So I'm glad I got the vaccine. I'm glad I got the first one, I'm glad I got the second one. If there was a third one, I would get the third one. That's how convinced I am that it's helping me."
Auriemma says he has complete faith in his longtime top assistant, Chris Dailey, who will be in charge when UConn plays High Point in the tournament's first round Sunday night. Dailey is undefeated (10-0) when filling in as head coach since 1985, when she and Auriemma started working together in Storrs.
"I'm not going to worry about whether or not our coaching staff has prepared them and will coach them in a championship manner," says Auriemma. "That would not be one of my worries."
He adds, "I just need them to win two games so I can get down there and try to help out on any games after that."