Geno Unplugged: A Fudd Around Exclusive

Summary

Podcast Summary: Fudd Around and Find Out

Episode: "Geno Unplugged: A Fudd Around Exclusive"

Date: September 26, 2025
Host: Azzi Fudd
Guest: Coach Geno Auriemma
Special Appearance: Stephanie Dolson
Production: iHeart Women’s Sports & Unanimous Media

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Episode Overview

This episode features a candid, energetic, and humorous conversation between UConn basketball star Azzi Fudd and her legendary coach, Geno Auriemma. Recorded at iHeart's Hartford studio, it's a rare, behind-the-scenes glimpse into their dynamic, Geno’s reflections on the evolution of college basketball, the Name/Image/Likeness (NIL) era, team culture, and Azzi’s growth. The duo draft all-time UConn dream teams, run a lightning round of hot-seat questions, and welcome former Husky Stephanie Dolson, adding nostalgia and extra laughs.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Welcoming Coach Geno (02:56-04:25)

• Azzi’s nerves and excitement at interviewing her coach set a relaxed, playful tone.
• Geno jokes about everyone having podcasts nowadays, recalling his own “pre-podcast” show with luminaries like Kobe Bryant and Tiger Woods.
  • Quote – Coach Geno (03:58): “Everybody has a podcast today. I’m actually, you know, talking to people that want me to have a podcast.”
  • Geno reminisces about his old local TV cooking show for a supermarket, clarifying, “I wasn’t doing the cooking. I was just there welcoming everybody – like you, just say ‘Welcome to our podcast’ and then everybody else does the work.”
• Coach or Geno? Azzi chooses “Coach” as the safest option, laughing at the perceived risks of being too informal.

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2. Azzi’s Return to Campus & Geno’s First Impressions (05:21-06:15)

• Geno highlights the excitement at the start of a new season and Azzi’s consistency:
  • Quote – Coach Geno (05:57): “Azzi’s always been Azzi. You can count on her. She’s reliable. You’re not gonna get any surprises.”
• Growth and maturity are emphasized as desirable traits for returning players.

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3. Recruitment Memories & First Encounters (06:15-08:16)

• Geno recalls seeing Azzi play as an eighth grader, noting her advanced skill and drawing big crowds, even as the youngest on the team.
  • Quote – Coach Geno (07:12): “I only had eyes for Az.”
• Azzi remembers being nervous before a St. John's open workout that Geno attended, highlighting the surreal, high-stakes feeling of recruitment.

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4. Impact of NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) and The Changing Game (08:38-11:22)

• Geno discusses seismic changes in college basketball due to NIL, joking that Diana Taurasi would’ve changed schools every year for higher offers.
  • Quote – Coach Geno (09:39): “Now it’s, ‘How much you paying me? That’s where I’m going to school.’”
• The new landscape means players are often more motivated by earnings potential than loyalty to team, coaching staff, or university tradition.
• Geno supports players getting paid, but laments lost simplicity and joy.

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5. The Fudd Family Dynamic (11:23-13:00)

• Geno describes Azzi’s family as “unique” and “exceptionally passionate,” noting how their nontraditional dynamic positively supports Azzi and fits the UConn culture.
  • Quote – Coach Geno (12:59): “You could hear their passion before you see it. Especially Papa.”

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6. The "People’s Princess" & Coaching Azzi (13:27-17:50)

• Azzi shares that some online call her the “people’s princess”; Geno admits to contributing to that image. Geno confirms Azzi rarely gets yelled at: “As I said at the beginning...Az comes ready to go every single day.” (13:57)
• Geno wishes Azzi was more of a risk-taker, referencing her conservative game and decision-making style, and references her critical defensive risk in the Final Four as a sign of growth.
  • Quote – Coach Geno (14:41): "The biggest risk a person can take is not take a risk. That’s the next step for her, to be a risk-taker."
• Geno and Azzi both banter about decisiveness and taking more chances—on and off the court.

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7. Cartoon Comparisons & Team Lightness (18:28-19:45)

• Azzi jokes that Geno is like the grandpa from “Up.” Geno returns the favor, calling Azzi a young Mary Poppins: “practically perfect in every way.”
  • Quote – Coach Geno (18:59): “Like a Mary Poppins kind of type...practically perfect in every way. That’s Azzi.”

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8. UConn All-Time Dream Team Draft (23:16-26:29)

• Azzi and Geno draft their dream teams. Geno’s picks: Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird, Tina Charles, Swin Cash, Tamika Williams. Azzi’s picks: Maya Moore, Breanna Stewart (“Stewie”), Napheesa Collier (“Fee”), Paige Bueckers, and includes herself.
  • Quote – Coach Geno (25:02): "I just took the starting lineup of the greatest basketball team that ever stepped foot on the floor, which you and Paige were not on, by the way."
• They reflect on UConn’s deep history, joking about how amazing the unused talent pool is.

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9. Lightning Round: Geno in the Hot Seat (27:10-34:09)

• Azzi asks rapid questions; highlights include:
  • Where the 2024-25 starters will be in 30 years: Geno jokes about Paige being at a home for “junior delinquents,” and Caitlyn Chen owning several of them.
    • Quote – Coach Geno (27:28): “Paige—some home for junior delinquents...maybe as a counselor, trying to teach kids, ‘Don’t be like I was.’”
  • Most famous person in Geno’s phone: “A former president. And a real famous golfer and basketball player.”
  • Geno discusses his lack of TikTok participation and his “signature shimmy”.
  • Retirement plans: Geno says, “Of course” he’ll retire but intends to stay in Connecticut and travel, not second-guess the next coach.

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10. Modern-Day Coaching Challenges (34:09-35:46)

• Discussion on how parents’ unrealistic expectations complicate coaching.
  • Quote – Coach Geno (34:25): "Parents are so delusional...Every one of them thinks their kid is better than Maya, Stewie, Paige."
• Geno emphasizes keeping things in perspective and the importance of fun, community, and character over individual stats.

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11. "What the FUD" of the Week (39:08-41:11)

• Azzi prompts Geno: Recall a play of hers that left him saying “What the fud?”
• Geno tells the story of drawing up a final-eight game-winning play for Azzi despite her “being 1 for 100” that game, surprising even his assistants—but it worked.
  • Quote – Coach Geno (40:22): “They thought I was going to draw it up for Paige and instead I drew it up for her...She knocks it in and the rest is history.”

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12. Stephanie Dolson Drops In (41:21-45:45)

• Steph asks Geno: “Did you baby me in college because I cried so much?” Geno says no, praising her for consistency, positivity, and always being fully present.
  • Quote – Coach Geno (42:54): “Every single day, the loudest voice, the first voice, the most consistent voice, the happiest person, the most outgoing, the best teammate in the building was always Steph.”
• Steph reflects on Geno being softer with later generations and jokes about infamous tough practices of earlier UConn eras.

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13. Final Reflections and Goodbyes (45:50-46:39)

• Azzi and Steph muse about how Geno and UConn have evolved.
• Azzi thanks guests and listeners, her signature upbeat, grateful tone closing out a playful yet deep show.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• Geno on NIL:
  “It’s kind of not as much fun now, but I’m all for it. I’m all for the kids getting paid.” (10:06)
• Geno on Azzi’s Reliability:
  “You can count on her. You’re not gonna get any surprises.” (06:01)
• Geno on The Fudd Family:
  “They’re different. They are different...exceptionally passionate.” (12:38–13:00)
• Azzi on Team Dream Draft:
  “I’m gonna go with me.” (26:14)
• Geno on Coaching Evolution:
  “I think as time’s gone on ... he definitely is a lot nicer to you guys than he was to us.” – Stephanie Dolson (45:22)
• Geno’s “What the Fud” Coaching Call:
  “I drew it up for her ... and she knocks it in and the rest is history.” (40:22)
• Geno on Perspective & Parental Expectations:
  “Parents are so delusional...Every one of them thinks their kid is like, better than Maya, better than Stewie, better than Paige.” (34:25)

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Important Segments & Timestamps

• (02:56-04:25): Opening banter, Geno’s media and cooking show history
• (05:21-06:15): Azzi’s return to UConn and team vibes
• (08:38-11:22): NIL’s impact on recruiting and college ball
• (13:27-17:50): Coaching Azzi, the “people’s princess,” and risk-taking
• (23:16-26:29): UConn Dream Team Draft
• (27:10-34:09): Lightning Round with Coach Geno
• (39:08-41:11): “What the FUD” of the week: the Final Eight play
• (41:21-45:45): Stephanie Dolson guest segment

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Tone & Takeaways

This episode blends honesty, mentorship, nostalgia, and humor. Azzi’s warmth and Geno’s candid, wry wisdom make for an entertaining yet instructive listen for fans, athletes, and anyone curious about life at the elite level of college basketball. The chemistry throughout, especially during games and hot-seat rounds, showcases the deep respect and affection between player and coach, as well as what makes the UConn program special across generations.

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[Summary by Podcast Summarizer AI, 2025 Review.]

Transcript

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[Az Fudd]

Hey, guys. Welcome back to another episode of fut around and find out. Today is a special episode. Every episode is a special episode, but today is special. We're in a different location. For those of you that can see us, for those of you that can't, we are in the iHeart studio in Hartford because we have a special guest, Coach Oriyama, joining us today. How do you feel about interviewing your coach? I'm excited. I'm excited. You look a little scared. No, it's just. It's different. Yeah, I don't think he's ever done something like this before. So you're special, and I'm excited for it, too. It's going to be fun. All right, let's get to it. Bring him in. Let's go. Hello. Welcome.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

This is my spot right here.

[Az Fudd]

Yes.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

I don't want to fall off.

[Az Fudd]

Coach.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

There's a TV screen right there. What's up, guys?

[Az Fudd]

Hi. Welcome. We're glad to have you.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

I'm glad to be here.

[Az Fudd]

Were you surprised to hear that AZ had a podcast?

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

No. Everybody has a podcast today. I'm actually, you know, talking to people that want me to have a podcast.

[Az Fudd]

So I'm kind of surprised you don't have a podcast.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Well, I had. I had a podcast before podcasts were popular.

[Az Fudd]

Ooh.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

And it was, you know, just me and my office talking to guys like Kobe and Tiger and people that I liked.

[Az Fudd]

I think you should bring your podcast back.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Well, there's a push to do that, so we're. We're working on it.

[Az Fudd]

What was the name of your podcast?

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

I don't know. I don't think it has a name yet. What's the name of this one? Oh, what's the name of this one? Fud around and find out.

[Az Fudd]

Yes.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

I don't know that it's going to be that catchy, you know, can't be that cool. No, I don't think it can be. I don't think it can be.

[Az Fudd]

So that's surprising. You had a podcast. I also heard you had a cooking show.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Oh, wow. Now you're going way back. Yeah, we did. It was in conjunction with one of our local supermarkets that we shop at, and we try to show people how you shop for certain things and then how you take those things and what goes into making certain things. Dishes. And so, yeah, it was good.

[Az Fudd]

Okay, Chef Gino?

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Well, I wasn't doing the cooking. I was just. I was just there welcoming every. Like you, you know, hey, welcome to our podcast. And then everybody else does the work. That's kind of how it works.

[Az Fudd]

So can we call you Gino or Coach?

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Call me whatever you like.

[Az Fudd]

Oof. I'm scared.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Up to you.

[Az Fudd]

I'm going to say Coach. It feels safe. Coach is safe. Coach is safe. Okay, so AZ has been back on campus for a couple weeks now. So how's that been for you guys?

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

For us as a team or me personally or both?

[Az Fudd]

However you want to answer.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

There's a sense of excitement, I think, at the beginning of school. People haven't seen each other for a while, so everybody's anxious to get caught up and do all that. They haven't been on the floor together. So that's exciting. You know, everybody wants to show off, like what they did during the summer. You know, this is the new me or this is the new and improved me, whatever the case may be. So, you know, az's always been az. She's always ready to go. She's always in great shape. You can count on her. You know, she's reliable. You're not gonna get any surprises.

[Az Fudd]

Generally speaking, good and bad.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Yeah, good and bad. The surprises are always good. You know, I'm always pleasantly surprised that there's a more grown up version, which is the way you want it to be. You want each year for kids to come back a little more grown up.

[Az Fudd]

So then let's take it back really quickly. When you were first looking at az, like recruiting her, what did you see in her?

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

It may have been in Chicago and you may have been like in eighth grade, maybe eighth grade, going into ninth grade, maybe something like that. Were you playing for the Fairfax Stars back then or something? Yeah, it was unusual for someone that age to be playing with 16, 17 year olds, so that was number one. And then, you know, her skill level was different than everybody else's, so it didn't take long to realize why was there a big crowd at her games? Because I'm not sure. I don't even know who else was on the team. Do you remember who else was on the team?

[Az Fudd]

Yeah, it was easy. In Fairfax. My point guard was Carly Rivera. She went to Columbia. My big man was Malouche Tange. She went to unc. I had a teammate who went to Harvard. I had a teammate. Yeah, that's all I remember.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. No disrespect, but that's all I remember. No disrespect. But I don't remember any of it.

[Az Fudd]

It was just az out there.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Yeah. I only had eyes for Az.

[Az Fudd]

Aw. Az. What do you remember about meeting coach? I remember you coming to an open workout at St. John's like, in the fall, and I remember being in the bathroom before, really nervous, and my teammate was like, you're fine. You got this. But I don't really remember, like, interacting with you.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Well, good. I'm glad you say that, because we weren't allowed to interact with the Flyers, you know, legal around here. We kept it legal always, always, always. Yeah, Yeah, I remember that. I remember that workout. I was sitting here in the bleachers. There's a basket over here to my right, and there's a basket down there to my left. And you worked out at the basket down to my left for about.

[Az Fudd]

There's no way you remember. I was gonna say memories.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

I do remember. I do remember that. And I walked, I went back, and I said, you know, I just watched, like, an hour workout, and I tried to keep track, but I. I think, like, in that hour, maybe you missed, like, five shots in that whole out.

[Az Fudd]

Geez. Yeah.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Like, I tend to remember guys who make shots, the guys who miss, like, the guys that were on your team. That I don't remember. I don't remember those guys.

[Az Fudd]

That's crazy. I actually, after that workout, I had two of my teammates, they ran to the locker room, changed, and put their uniform back on and, like, ran to the parking lot to try to catch you and get a picture with you, but they put the uniform back on so you wouldn't know that they were just practicing. He didn't see them, actually.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Oh, wow. That part I don't remember. That part I don't remember.

[Az Fudd]

So, coach, you've been coaching for many years, very successful. Now, in this new age of nil, what's been different, like, for you?

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Well, everything's different, really. I mean, we've gone from, I can't talk to a kid when I go watch them work out, which is kind of dumb, to now we are allowed to give them money, you know? And everybody wants to say, like, it's nil. Everybody throws that word around, like, nil. How many people in here know what nil means? Okay. There are people that really work in the business know, so it means name, image, and likeness. Okay, so what's different is. Let's take. You're recruiting a player from high school, and you could tell them, okay, listen, if you come to UConn and you want to sell T shirts with your name on it. Wow, that's great. You can do that now. And you can make money on that. Wow. We want to put your name on a poster. Okay, now you can make money on that. You want to do TV commercials? You can do that now. You can use your name, your image and your likeness to make money. That was the way it was intended to be. Now it's, listen, if I give you this much money, will you come to UConn? So what's different about it? Yeah, it's kind of confused the issue a little bit. Now. Kids aren't necessarily picking schools because that's where I want to go to school, because I really like the coaching staff. I love the program. I love the school. I love everything about it. Now it's how much you paying me, and that's where I'm going to school. So, yeah, it's kind of not as much fun now, but I'm all for it. I'm all for the kids getting paid. I like that. I do.

[Az Fudd]

So what would you say, out of the teams you've had, the dynasties you've had, which era would not survive the nil era that we have now?

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

I think Diana would have probably played at four schools in four years. I think she would have gone to the highest bidder every year. And I laugh about it, but obviously, people listening or watching, however they take in this podcast have no idea how good those players were and how much. If you go by money, how much money those guys would have commanded, and we would not have been able to afford them if they. If they were looking for the kind of money that they deserved, there's no way that we would have been able to do that. No way. Because some of the money that kids are being paid today, it's like paying $100 for a cup of coffee. It's really not worth $100, but these guys are, you know, so, yeah, that group of players, when you. When you think about D, Sue, Sveta, Shay, Tamika, Asia, Swin, you know, you got four Olympians on the team. Like, I don't know, the last time I coached four Olympians on the same team. Actually, five. Cause Svetlana was on the Russian Olympic team twice.

[Az Fudd]

Expensive, expensive, expensive.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Very expensive.

[Az Fudd]

Okay, so let's pivot to the Fudd family. Oh, boy. So, coach, what do you think of the FUD family?

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

The FUDd family, generally speaking, you don't wanna FUD around and find out, hey, family, come on. Generally speaking, I think it's, you know, people throw the word unique around a lot, you know, or like special. Oh, that kid's special. And I always ask like, what's so special about him? Well, they're really good basketball players. That doesn't make you special. Right. That just makes you a good basketball player. I, I think Az's family is unique because of how it's not your traditional put together family that you would go.

[Az Fudd]

Oh.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Isn'T that special? Well, in their case, if you think about her mom's journey and her dad and brothers, grandparents, like all the people that are part of her inner circle, they all have like a unique journey that involves the family together and also involves their own special journey separate from the family. And to me that's a little bit different and it's a little bit unique. That's how I would describe them. They're different.

[Az Fudd]

They're different. They are different.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

And I think Az would be the first to say it, which she did, that it's a different dynamic and it works, it works great for them, it works great for Azy and it works great for us. And they're passionate. I would describe them as exceptionally passionate. Passionate about everything that they do and certainly passionate about easy.

[Az Fudd]

I like that word for them. Passionate.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Yeah, they're very passionate. You could hear their passion. A lot of times you could hear their passion before you see it.

[Az Fudd]

Especially papa.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Oh, for sure.

[Az Fudd]

Hold on, Az, what do you mean by that? Especially Papa? Papa's loud. They're all loud. But Papa's loud. Papa loves Coach too. Oh, he does?

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

You know, just a long line.

[Az Fudd]

Very true.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Just saying. But it may not be as long as the people who don't love me, but it's still a long line.

[Az Fudd]

So Coach, what do you think about the Internet referring to AZ as the people's princess? I hear that you have a lot to do with that nickname. I do, Yeah.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

I don't know, I. We were talking yesterday and she's got a water bottle that says Princess Az. So I didn't realize she was the people's princess.

[Az Fudd]

I mean, I heard you don't yell at her at practice.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

I don't know if that's completely true. Do you think that's completely true?

[Az Fudd]

I don't get yelled at that much. You said that was going to change this year.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Yeah, I don't know. There's really not a lot to get upset about and yell about. As I said at the beginning of this, Az comes ready to go every single day. There isn't any day where you go and complain about her effort or her Concentration level or anything, any of that. I wish every player had that. She's in the weight room, she's doing the best. She's giving you the best version of herself in the weight room. She's on the court, she's doing the exact same thing. You know, sometimes I get upset with her about her lack of adventure. I call it generally speaking over the years, she's not a risk taker. AZ is not going to be the one to put herself out there and take a chance unless it's already been calculated and it's going to work. Last year, especially in the final four, she took, she took some risks and they paid off. And maybe that's going to be like, hey, I can be. You know, someone said recently the biggest risk a person can take is not take a risk. So I think that's the next step for her is to be a risk taker. Not, not like Paige.

[Az Fudd]

I was just about to ask, you know, I don't have like, like you.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

No, you can't be like that, you know, so, yeah, no, I don't go around practice yawning and screaming, Az, I just go home and do it.

[Az Fudd]

What kind of risk do you want to see me take?

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

I was, yes, well, there's various kinds of risks. You know, should I go for that steal or not? So whenever we're practicing and we're going to practice our press or we're going to do something, I'm always thinking, where the hell are we going to put her? Because when you're pressing and you're really aggressive and you're going, you need people that are going to take a chance. If you're watching football and you're a defensive back, you can easily just run around all the time or you could actually take a chance and go for an interception or something. So she's just very, very conservative I guess is the word. So that take a risk defensively, you know, like she did in the final four, she goes for a steal, she strips the kid, gets a layup, you know, get in the passing lane, steal a couple. It's funny because Ashton Shade on our team is just a younger version of az. Like with her, everything's got to be perfect, Everything's got to be just right, you know, like, it's almost like they play like. Well, I know most of your audiences, like 14 year olds, they probably don't know Marcel Marceau, you know, but that's kind of like, like not nothing like crazy. Take a shot when you've missed five shots in a row and when younger Az would go, well, I already missed the last five. I'm not taking this one. Well, in my mind, it's like you just missed five. In my mind, I think you're going to make the next 10. So that's. I kind of like to see her think that way, you know, even in her personal. I don't know her personal life as well as people closest to her do. It's same thing if you ask Az a question. And again, younger Az when she was 18. 17. 18. So, Azy, what do you think? You have to leave a half an hour for the answer. So, Az, what do you think of. Let me see.

[Az Fudd]

This is not what I was like.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Oh, my God. Are you kidding me?

[Az Fudd]

That's not what I was like.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Oh, my God. You want me to get on the phone now and call everybody that's ever met you? Izzy, what would you like to have in your coffee? Let me see. I'm kind of like, you know, I kind of like 2% milk, but sometimes I like soy milk. And I don't know, what if I pick the wrong one? I don't know.

[Az Fudd]

I'm working on my decisiveness.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

So that's what I'm talking about. Yes, yes. Just kind of like go with the flow. Go with your gut instinct, man. Like, you know, so these are things that I think people that are so disciplined like she is, that are so boom, boom, like, I'm going to get it right every time. I think that's the biggest obstacle or hurdle that they eventually have to go over is when do you let go and just let it. Let your natural ability and natural instincts take over instead of having everything have to be exceptionally well thought out. That is a time and place for that, don't get me wrong.

[Az Fudd]

Well, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised this year.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Wow, good. Because now the more risks you take, the more you're going to screw up, and the more I can get pissed.

[Az Fudd]

And the more he can get.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

I love it. I'm excited already.

[Az Fudd]

Me too.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Yeah? Yeah.

[Az Fudd]

I'll be praying for you, girly.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

You should.

[Az Fudd]

You should have scream. Any. Any more responses, Az, to that? You know, rise to the challenge.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Okay, let me think if I have any responses to that.

[Az Fudd]

I was waiting for that. Oh, no. Okay. A little bit of a pivot. So Az has compared you to the grandpa up. The grandpa from the movie up.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Oh, the movie up.

[Az Fudd]

Yeah.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Oh, okay. How about now? Still?

[Az Fudd]

Somebody get him a balloon.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

I think he's a cool guy.

[Az Fudd]

No? Yeah, yeah. So if you had to have a cartoon character. That would be az. Who would you pick?

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Oh, geez. Like a Mary Poppins kind of type, you know, not that she's a cartoon character, but if you turn Mary Poppins into a young Mary Poppins and it was a cartoon, that would be easy. Like practically, practically perfect in every way. You know, like all that stuff.

[Az Fudd]

I haven't seen that movie in so long. That's a compliment.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

That's a great compliment.

[Az Fudd]

Yep.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Right?

[Az Fudd]

Yes.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

That was Mary Poppins. She was practically perfect in every way. You would be like a young cd. Doesn't that make you happy?

[Az Fudd]

Is that a compliment? Yeah.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Is that a compliment? That's probably not a compliment, but young CD was, was kind of fun to be around. And I mean an old CD now is probably fun. I think CD middle, middle CD was not fun to be around.

[Az Fudd]

How long was that Little Gap?

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

About 50 of her years. She's a little bit older than 50. I don't want to get into how old she is.

[Az Fudd]

You better not.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

I won't get into, but she's. She's a little over. Thank you.

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[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Plush.

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[Sophia from OK Storytime]

This is Sophia from OK Storytime. The wait is over. The next up live music finals are here. On September 26th, TikTok Live and iHeartRadio bring you the biggest night in live music. Streaming directly from the legendary I Art radio theater in LA. The top 12 artists you've been following will take the stage spotlight for one career defining performance judged by music gurus and industry powerhouses. Tom Pullman, Chief programming officer at iHeartRadio, Yana Murphy, program director of 102.7 Kiss FM. Justina Valentine from MTV's Wild N Out and viral guitarist John dredda hosted by JoJo on the radio and EJ from 102.7 Kiss FM. This is the ultimate showdown. The judges will crown the next up live music winner and you have the power to decide who takes home the people's torsuit. Don't miss a second. Watch it all unfold live on TikTok on September 26th from 7 to 9pm Pacific Time, only on the official TikTok handle at TikTok Live. Underscore us again. That's at TikTok Live. Underscore us together, let's witness the birth of the next music superstar.

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[Coach Geno Auriemma]

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[Az Fudd]

Okay, so the first game we're going to play is we're going to draft our Yukon Dream teams with former Yukon players and we're going to draft teams that we want to win. And we're going to go back and forth trading picks and you can start because you're the guest.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

I get one, then you get two, then I get one. That's how it goes.

[Az Fudd]

That's two. Why don't we go one and one?

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

One and one. Like of all time?

[Az Fudd]

Yes, of all time.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Of all time. Okay, like all time Dream team. To win or to have fun with whatever you want. Well now you have to give me the rules of the game. If it's to win, that may be different than let's have fun. Like the team I would want to coach for six months and have the most fun ever. Or the team that we want to win with.

[Az Fudd]

Okay, let's have fun.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Oh, a fun team.

[Az Fudd]

Yeah. You can do both. Yeah. Why can't you have fun and win?

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Why can't you have fun and win? Well, because some guys that you know you can win with ain't no fun to be around, and I've been around them, so. And then other guys are just a lot of fun to be around, but I don't think you can win with them. But. All right, so let's go with we're trying to win.

[Az Fudd]

Okay.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

We're trying to win. All right, I'll take D. Take Maya. Ooh, good pick. I'll take. We'll start with our back court. I'll take Sue.

[Az Fudd]

Oof.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

So I got two hall of Famers so far.

[Az Fudd]

How about that hurt? That hurt me.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

That hurt. One. That one hurt.

[Az Fudd]

I'm gonna take Stewie.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

That's a good one. I'll take Tina. I got three hall of Famers.

[Az Fudd]

Yeah, you going crazy?

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

I'm gonna take only five.

[Az Fudd]

Five.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Okay, five.

[Az Fudd]

I'm taking Fee. Yes. Good pick.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

That's a good one. Oh, wow. Wow, that's a good one. I'll take Swin. Oh, now I got four hall of Famers.

[Az Fudd]

I'm taking Paige.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Hey, you're taking Paige?

[Az Fudd]

Yep.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Aye, aye, yai yai yai. Let's see, what do I have? I got two guards. I got Sue. I got D. I got Swind. I got Tina. Sue D. Swinn. Tina. Oh, and I'll take Tamika. So I'm just take. I just took the starting lineup of the greatest basketball team that ever step foot on the floor, which you and Paige were not on, by the way. So whatever you pick, well, you can't beat us, but you got to pick a fifth. Go ahead.

[Az Fudd]

Wait, it was Paige. Maya, Stewie picked a legendary team.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

She can't even remember who they are.

[Az Fudd]

No, no, I'm just making sure.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Okay, all the other players, if you're out there listening, I'm just doing this for the hell of it. That's not maybe who I would really pick, but that's who I pick for this, so don't text me and get your panties in a bunch, because you know you didn't get picked. Go ahead.

[Az Fudd]

I'm gonna choose.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Say, I'm gonna choose me. See, that's the way you need to, like, start thinking.

[Az Fudd]

Okay, I'm gonna go with me.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Oh, you're gonna Go with you?

[Az Fudd]

Yeah.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Good, good. There you go. That's a good team. You, Paige, Fee, Stewie, Maya. Maya. Woo. That's a hell of a team there, man. That's a really, really good team, huh?

[Az Fudd]

So every team you make with former UConn players is a good team?

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Yeah, yeah. We played this game a lot when we would be, you know, just sitting around and we would go, hey, pick the five best players that you think the five best players on ucahn. And somebody would pick the five best that they thought were the five best. And then somebody would say, okay, I'll take these five. And I think we would beat your five. Now, most schools after you got the five, there would be no other picks, you know, so we're very fortunate that we can. We can put together three or four teams because there's a lot of future hall of Famers we didn't pick. I like that. That was a good exercise there.

[Az Fudd]

Okay, we have another game.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

All right, what's the other game?

[Az Fudd]

Now let's play Geno in the hot seat. AZ gets to ask Gino anything.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Lightning round.

[Az Fudd]

You ready?

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Yep.

[Az Fudd]

Okay, so the starting five from last year, where will they be in 30 years? We'll start with Paige.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Where will she be in 30 years? Yeah, some 30 years. Some home for junior delinquents, juvenile delinquents, maybe as a. Like a counselor or something, trying to teach kids. Don't be like I was.

[Az Fudd]

Okay. Caitlyn Chen.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Caitlin chen. She'll own 15 of those places.

[Az Fudd]

Jana, Jenna.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Where will Janna be in 30 years? She can't be a princess like you, so she can't be a princess in Egypt or anything like that. How will I be in 30 years? Let's see, that'll be 101. So, Jenna, in 30 years, I think she'll be sitting on my shoulder, yelling at me in my ear to try to get back at me for all the things I've said to her since she's been at UConn.

[Az Fudd]

Okay. Where would I be in 30 years?

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Trying to figure out which question to ask.

[Az Fudd]

Anyway. Who is the most famous person in your phone?

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Oh, yeah, Yeah. I don't know. You're supposed to divulge stuff like that.

[Az Fudd]

I mean, it's not that bad. Okay, name one that you can say most famous person.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Well, if you ask them, Paige.

[Az Fudd]

No, we had to.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Somebody else in my phone.

[Az Fudd]

So what we're going to expect. Singer, rapper. A rapper, chef. Do you have any rapper. Do you know any rappers?

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

I do not.

[Az Fudd]

You hear here first. Y'. All.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

I mean, I don't know. I don't know person. I don't know personally. Although anybody can just start saying stuff into a mic and say, I'm a rapper, you know, my famous ones. I don't, I don't. I wish I knew. There's a couple I wish I knew, but I don't. So most famous, I know a former president that. That's on my. That's in my phone.

[Az Fudd]

That's up there. Yeah, I think.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

You think that's up there?

[Az Fudd]

Definitely. That's got it.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

There's a real famous golfer on my phone and there's a real famous basketball player on my phone, so.

[Az Fudd]

Sure, there's plenty. Okay. Big can use our imagination, though. Have your grandkids ever tried to make you do a tick tock with them?

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

No, I'm not old enough. My oldest is 15.

[Az Fudd]

That's old enough.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Yeah, but he's. He's got more sense than that.

[Az Fudd]

Good for him. Good for him.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

He's got more sense than that.

[Az Fudd]

I would love to see you.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

I only have one juvenile that asked me to do TikToks. That is KK.

[Az Fudd]

Okay. What are your thoughts on the TikTok edits of you?

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

I. I'm really not privy to my TikTok edits.

[Az Fudd]

Yes, you are, because KK showed you them the other day, the videos of you dancing.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Oh, that's. That's TikTok.

[Az Fudd]

That was TikTok.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

I. I mean, I got a kick out of my laughed. You know, I. I like the fact that I'm coaching kids. I like the fact that I'm coaching kids whose moms could be my kids. That means I've been around a long time, huh?

[Az Fudd]

Yes.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

All right, go ahead.

[Az Fudd]

Where did you get your signature shimmy move from?

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

I don't know. I.

[Az Fudd]

Just natural.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Yeah. No, I don't know.

[Az Fudd]

Can we see it?

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

I know I used to be, like, really, really, really, really skinny. Like when I was in. When I was playing in high school. When I was in college, I was worried that, like, I wasn't. I was built like Paige, more like really skinny. Like, I mean, I had more muscle than she did, but, I mean, you could tell the difference between my arms and my legs. Not like with her right when she was, you know, freshman, sophomore. Every muscle in her body was the same. Like her arms, her hamstrings, her calves, they were all the same size, you know, so.

[Az Fudd]

I'm crying. Paige, if you're listening, we love you. We do. We love you, girl.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Don't tell her that. Everybody tells her that. Don't tell her that. So I don't know. And I used to kind of be more fluid.

[Az Fudd]

So this is like one of your go to moves from when you were younger.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

I don't know if I have a go to move. You know, I was always like you. I was always very self conscious of what people thought of me.

[Az Fudd]

Okay.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

So I really didn't act out like that. I didn't do that kind of stuff. Do you do that kind of stuff?

[Az Fudd]

I might try it this year. I might take that risk. Hit a three and hit a shimmy.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Yes, there you go. There you go. Yeah, I was a lot like that. A lot like you, like, very, very conservative when it came to that stuff.

[Az Fudd]

Okay.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Very much so.

[Az Fudd]

Everyone knows what my pregame ritual is. Do you have one?

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Pregame ritual, pregame routine, pregame, anything. I like to be by myself and just listen to some music or lay down, take a nap. I think it depends on how I'm feeling, what kind of team we have. Sometimes I'm on my knees praying and begging that we play good.

[Az Fudd]

Last one. Are you ever going to retire? And when you do, will you stay in Connecticut or move somewhere else?

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Am I ever going to retire? Of course. You heard it here first. This could be my last podcast ever.

[Az Fudd]

Oh, my gosh, we hope not.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

There you go. I just almost retired. Am I ever. Of course, I mean, of course that would be like me asking you, are you ever going to not play basketball anymore? Of course. We all come to a point where we stop and move on to something different. Will I stay in Connecticut? Yeah, I'll probably always live in Connecticut. You know, it's my family is, my grandkids and everybody. This is where I've built, you know, built a home for, for us. Will I want to travel a lot? I mean, I already do, but will I want to travel even more than I do right now? Of course. But I like, you know, I like, I like living here and I like the people and I'm not going to be a Gamper Pavilion sitting on the 50 yard lines staring at the new coach going, what the hell are you doing? You know, I'm not going to be that guy, but I'll be calling into all the talk shows and complaining about the players. Maybe you should coach the next team. Maybe you should become the coach when I retire.

[Az Fudd]

I think I might respectfully decline.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Take a risk.

[Az Fudd]

Take a risk. Okay, maybe we'll see.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Yeah, there you go. Maybe some of the games you can be guest coach this year.

[Az Fudd]

Oh, gosh. Okay, we'll see.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

What do you think? You can be a co. I let. You can do the substitutions.

[Az Fudd]

Okay.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Then you'll see how hard of a job that is.

[Az Fudd]

I believe your job is hard.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

My job is hard. My job is hard. It's hard because, and you know this as well as I do, it's hard because in the world that we live in today, you asked about what's one of the biggest things parents are so delusional.

[Az Fudd]

Delusional.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Would you agree with that? Yeah, they're so delusional. Every one of them thinks their kid is like, better than Maya, better than Stewie, better than Paige, better than anybody. And that they should, you know, play 35 minutes every single game. And so these kids, they are like under so much pressure that if they don't live up to that, they're not having any fun, you know? So I think what makes my job hard is trying to make sure that these kids all understand that it can be a lot of fun, but it's gotta be. Everything's gotta be in perspective, you know, And I think sometimes the hardest part of my job is we've all kind of lost perspective of how all this works and what it means, winning games and all that stuff. That's not, that's not hard and all that. But we're lucky. We have a really good group of, really good group of kids this year. They're fun to be around. They enjoy each other's company and they want to win. They want to work hard. And so I'm looking forward to the season. I'm looking forward to the new you, the new az. The, you know, the next podcast that we have, we'll have a. Clips. We'll have clips of all the risks you took going for steals that you didn't get them and you gave up layups. And then we can all pitch them on about those.

[Az Fudd]

Perfect. I look forward to that. I can't wait.

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[Sophia from OK Storytime]

This is Sophia from OK Storytime. The wait is over. The next up Live music finals are here on September 26, TikTok Live and iHeartra Radio bring you the biggest night in live music. Streaming directly from the legendary iHeartradio theater in LA. The top 12 artists you've been following will take the spotlight for one career defining performance. Judged by music gurus and industry powerhouses Tom Pullman, Chief programming officer at iHeartRadio, Yotta Murphy, program director of 102.7 Kiss FM Justina Valentine from MTV's Wild N Out and viral guitarist John on dredda hosted by JoJo on the radio and EJ from 102.7 Kiss FM. This is the ultimate showdown. The judges will crown the next up live music winner and you have the power to decide who takes home the people's torso. Don't miss a second. Watch it all unfold live on TikTok on September 26th from 7 to 9pm Pacific time only on the official TikTok handle at TikTok Live. Underscore us again that's at TikTok Live. Underscore us together. Let's witness the birth of the next music superstar.

[Gemma Spake]

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[Az Fudd]

You can.

[Gemma Spake]

You could even travel for free. Learn [e-mail] that's efultimatebreak.com and turn the group chat into a group trip.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

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[Gemma Spake]

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[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Because let's be real real.

[Gemma Spake]

Your music deserves it.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

The future of sound is now with LG Xboom and for a limited time, save [e-mail] with code fall25. Bring the boom. Xboom.

[Az Fudd]

Okay, so we're gonna get into the what the FUD of the week. Okay, so basically a what? The FUD of the week would be what made you something that might have happened this week that made you go, what the fud? Yours is specific to az. So what's something that AZ has done during a game that made you say, what the fuck?

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Well, this and Bob's az. So I'll, you know, so I have to put it together. We just, we just talked about it yesterday. So we're playing USC in the final eight to go to the final four. Really tight game, really big moment. There's a timeout and one of the coaches might have been Jamel or somebody, I don't know. But we were sitting around and the coaches said, you know, you've been playing around with this one play we call two up, we ran. And when Rebecca played, so. And Jamel played actually. So why don't we run two up coming out of a timeout and it involves like a couple screens and then a three point shot by one of our shooters. So I'm drawing it up on the board and I'm drawing up for her to shoot it. Now Meanwhile, she's over 100 during that game one.

[Az Fudd]

I made a layup.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Okay, she did make a layup. She was 1 for 100 in that game. So we come out and as we're going out onto the floor, I think a couple of the coaches looked at me and went, seriously? Because they thought I was going to draw it up for Paige and instead I drew it up for her. So they were saying to me, what the FUD are you doing? Right, right. I said, yeah. And she knocks it in and the rest is history.

[Az Fudd]

Yeah. Faith in you, girl. I could flip that back to you. And in the moment I was like, what the fudge is he doing? Why is he drawing this up for me?

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

See, See, I have more faith in her than she was.

[Az Fudd]

So I don't think like that anymore.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

She doesn't think I don't think like that anymore.

[Az Fudd]

That was the old me.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Now if I don't draw it up for her, she's going to pull like a Scottie Pippen and not go out on the court. If it's not for me, I ain't playing.

[Az Fudd]

I would never do that. Okay, coach, before we wrap, we have a special guest that wants to come on and say, what's up? Stephanie Dolson. Welcome.

[Stephanie Dolson]

Hey, what's up, Coach?

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

What's up? How are you, big girl? You good?

[Az Fudd]

Okay. Steph, we heard you have a hot question that you want to ask coach that you feel like you can now that you're 10 years out.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Hmm.

[Az Fudd]

Okay.

[Stephanie Dolson]

I feel like the only question I would have is, did you baby me when I was in college because I cried so much?

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

No, I did not. I did not.

[Stephanie Dolson]

Are you sure?

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

I'm absolutely 100% positive. Because this is no exaggeration. Either. You can pull up CD and she'll agree with me if you don't even tell her what the question is or just tell her what the question is and don't tell her what I said. You were there for four years and you figure, how many practices do we have in four years? How many games do we have in four years? How many road trips do we have in four years? And I would say that I didn't baby you because I treated you the way I treated you. Because in those four years, I remember exactly two days when I thought you didn't show up as Stephanie Dawson. Two out of four years, that every single day, the loudest voice, the first voice, the most consistent voice, the happiest person, the most outgoing, the best teammate in the building was always Steph. Always nonstop, every single day. On the bus, on the plane, in the hotel. Always, always, always for four years.

[Az Fudd]

There we go.

[Stephanie Dolson]

Great. I'm glad to know. But I also want my teammates to know that because they all thought that I was being babied because I was emotional and I wasn't.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Well, yeah, I mean, just cause you're emotional, that's not bad. Just because they were a bunch of stumps, you know? You know, stumps on a lot. They had no personality, some of those guys. Or they were annoying. All right, thanks for the question, Steph.

[Az Fudd]

Thanks, Steph.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Great to see you.

[Stephanie Dolson]

Welcome.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

I'm not babying you now. Get off. Bye.

[Stephanie Dolson]

Don't worry, I don't get babied anymore. Although I was never babied.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

You're right.

[Az Fudd]

Bye, coach. Thank you. Bye, Anna.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Thank you, coach.

[Stephanie Dolson]

Is that it?

[Az Fudd]

Yo, he ran out of here. He's gone. He's. He's sprinting. Wait, Actually, yeah. Yes. Like, girl. Nothing but headphone left.

[Stephanie Dolson]

I literally. That I didn't even have a question on. I thought you were asking me questions. That was the best I could come up with in 10 seconds.

[Az Fudd]

Well, it was good. It was a good question. Was that what you thought he was going to say?

[Stephanie Dolson]

Yes and no. I mean, I Cried a lot. So I actually did. He did baby me, though. Like, he didn't baby me, but he. I was a suck up. So he was really like. Everyone used to say that I was his favorite and how annoying it was because he'd always be like, you know, just. I don't want to say take it easy on me, but before I got there, I remember watching them do sprints and if they didn't make it in time, they had to do it again, even the slowest person. And I think in my four years, I made it maybe once and we never had to redo it because of me. So, like, I don't know.

[Az Fudd]

That's love.

[Stephanie Dolson]

I think it's just because I tried really hard.

[Az Fudd]

I mean, you showed up as yourself, as he said. Yeah.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Yeah.

[Stephanie Dolson]

Anyway, I digress.

[Az Fudd]

I was wondering what differences have you seen from coach, from how he was when he coached you and how he is now?

[Stephanie Dolson]

I mean, I've only been to a few practices, but it does seem a little bit more lenient. I think everyone says that obviously he's gotten a little bit older, so I think he lets a lot more go than he used to. But even when I was there, he let more stuff go than the years prior. So I think as time has gone on, I'm sure he's just. He just knows how good you guys are at basketball, but he definitely is a lot nicer to you guys than he was to us.

[Az Fudd]

I think that's the common answer. So everyone says.

[Stephanie Dolson]

Yeah, yeah.

[Az Fudd]

But I wish, I wish we could go back and watch how he was with you guys.

[Stephanie Dolson]

Yeah, practices were crazy back then. Like, and the stories that we even heard from the years prior was like the amount of times they had practices with no balls. Right. They were just doing sprints. It was just some crazy stuff that we heard. So I'm sure it's just gotten a little bit better with each generation.

[Az Fudd]

I can only imagine. Yeah.

[Coach Geno Auriemma]

Yeah.

[Az Fudd]

All right. Well, Steph, I know this was quick, but thank you so much for joining today. This was a lot of fun having you, having coach on and to everyone listening and watching. Don't forget to rate review and subscribe to futuroun. Find out wherever you get your podcasts and we'll see you next week. Put around and Find out is a production of I Heart Women's Sports and Unanimous Media. Executive producers are Jesse Katz, Eric Payton, Sharla Sumter, Brigitte and Stefan Curry. Co executive producer is Kalena Maria Kutney. Producers are Mike Coscarelli and co producers are Kurt Redmond Maya Howard and Jaclyn Schoeninger. This podcast is edited by Mike Coscarelli and hosted by Me, Az Fudd and Ashanti Plummer.

[Gemma Spake]

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