Coaches dominate women's Final Four

TAMPA, FLA. -- Fourteen NCAA championships, four WNBA titles, three Olympic gold medals.

The women's Final Four coaches have very impressive resumes. And all four -- UConn's Geno Auriemma, Tennessee's Pat Summitt, Stanford's Tara VanDerveer and LSU's Van Chancellor -- are in the Hall of Fame.

They have contrasting styles and personalities. But whether it's an icy stare, constant words of encouragement or riding their best players hard, the four get their points across.

"I think the women's Final Four right now, with not only the players, but three of the other coaches, I think this is the greatest Final Four we've ever had," said Chancellor, who is making his first appearance in the Final Four.

"You've got perennial powers, Connecticut and Tennessee, with legendary coaches. Then you've got Stanford, where the coach has won a national championship."

Summitt is the most decorated of the four, having won seven national championships and an Olympic gold medal in 1984. She has led Tennessee to the national semifinals 18 times in her 34-year career.

An icy stare often is painted on Summitt's face during a game, aimed at whichever player isn't playing up to her potential.

Ask her about the accomplishments of a former player, though, and her eyes begin to sparkle and a smile breaks out on her face.

She'll make her players run laps if she feels they need a little discipline, but she acknowledges she's been getting "softer" in recent years.

"I've probably given this team more time off than any other team of mine," she said recently.

Auriemma definitely hasn't gotten softer in his 23rd season at Connecticut. He continues to ride his best players hard to get the most out of them. No one can question the results -- he's led the Huskies to nine Final Fours and five national titles.

Auriemma has 657 career wins, reaching the 600-victory plateau faster than any other coach in the women's game by taking just 716 games to accomplish the feat. Yet, this season may have been his best coaching job.

The Huskies won both the Big East regular-season and tournament titles despite losing two starters, Mel Thomas and Kalana Greene, to season-ending knee injuries.