Joe Mazzulla offers up high praise for Geno Auriemma, UConn

Celtics

“You’ve got to know how to deal with that perspective, because I think as successful as he’s been, he’s got great perspective.”

Joe Mazzulla had high praise for UConn and Geno Auriemma. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Joe Mazzulla didn’t mince words as he made his way to the podium for his regular pregame press conference on Sunday evening.

“Let’s make this quick, UConn’s playing,” Mazzulla said ahead of the Celtics’ home game against the Wizards, per Zack Cox of the Boston Herald.

Once Mazzulla’s press conference did wrap, the second half of the women’s national championship game between UConn and South Carolina was broadcast on the TD Garden Jumbotron — with the Huskies and legendary head coach Geno Auriemma eventually beating the Gamecocks, 82-59, en route to a 12th championship.

Ever since Mazzulla first took over as Celtics head coach three seasons ago, he has developed a close rapport with Auriemma — with the duo spotted together on the hardwood in Storrs, Conn. ahead of the Huskies’ latest tournament run.

While Auriemma’s Hall-of-Fame resume does speak for itself, Mazzulla stressed that the college hoops legend’s impact lies beyond his coaching acumen, recruiting successes, and the other barometers used to judge individuals in the same field.

“He’s been amazing,” Mazzulla said of Auriemma. “I think when I first got the job, [we had] the Italian connection and really just the connection of being in New England. But to me he’s the basketball version of what we talk about with [Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola].

“He has the ability to out-coach you tactically and manage the best players, manage talent, and all the things some of the best players of all-time say about him, it just shows the type of player and coach he is.”

Joe Mazzulla on UConn head coach Geno Auriemma:

“He’s the basketball version of what we talk about with Pep — he has the ability to outcoach you tactically, manage the best players, manage talent.”

“He really took me under his wing of just kind of how to go after greatness,… https://t.co/7ndFOYFnx0 pic.twitter.com/UuSe0yrA56

— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) April 6, 2025

While Mazzulla achieved basketball immortality by winning a championship with the Celtics last June, he noted that Auriemma and the principles he set at Connecticut have served as a valuable resource for him over the years.

“He really took me under his wing — just how to go after greatness, how to manage talent, how to coach talent at the highest level,” Mazzulla said. “You’ve got to know how to deal with that perspective, because I think as successful as he’s been, he’s got great perspective.”