UConn's Auriemma Tests Positive For COVID-19 Ahead Of NCAA Women's Tourney

UConn women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma will be away from the team during the first-round of the NCAA tournament.

ESPN reports Auriemma has tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday (March 14) and will remain in isolation for 10 days. The legendary coach can rejoin the team on March 24, which will be during the second-round of tournament games should the Huskies (24-1), who ranked No. 1 overall in the final regular season AP Poll, advance.

Auriemma is not currently experiencing any symptoms as of Monday (March 15), according to a UConn news release obtained by ESPN. The coach is reported to have not had close contact with any of the other team members since Friday (March 12) and all other Tier I personnel have tested negative since the NCAA's mandatory testing in preparation of the upcoming tournament began on March 9.

The NCAA women's tournament bracket will be announced live on Monday at 7:00 p.m. EST, with the first-round of games held in San Antonio beginning next Sunday (March 21.) UConn is scheduled to travel to San Antonio Tuesday (March 16), but has not specified who will serve as interim head coach in Auriemma's absence.

Associate head coach Chris Dailey, who joined the program alongside Auriemma in 1985, has previously filled interim role when the coach was absent due to illness.

Auriemma has spent his entire head coaching career at UConn, where he's won 1,115 games during a 35-year span, making him the winningest active coach and second all time in NCAA women's basketball history.

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