Coaching legend Geno Auriemma is a passionate advocate for cancer research. He spoke more about his involvement as the keynote speaker Thursday at Find A Cure Together's Victory for Voices event. 

Auriemma lost his father to lung cancer over two decades ago. He also feels a special connection to the late coach, Jim Valvano, for whom the event's benefactor, The V Foundation, was named. 

Auriemma spoke a great deal about his Connecticut women's basketball team to the Huskies-crazed crowd at the Farmington Club. He also used the attention around the UConn program as a way to illustrate a need to keep things in perspective. 

“I go through my life trying to live vicariously through Jimmy V, laughing my way through all of this,” Auriemma said. “You got to laugh through all of this.”

Auriemma has won in unprecedented fashion. He has 11 NCAA championships, 20 Final Four appearances and 25 conference titles in 34 years at UConn. 

Auriemma is an eight-time Naismith National Coach of the Year. He is the fastest coach in women's or men's college basketball to accumulate 1,000 career victories. 

Outside of the college game, Auriemma led the U.S women's national team to two Olympic gold medals. For all his illustrious achievements, he is a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame. 

To inquire about the speaking fee and appearance cost for Geno Auriemma, contact the agents at Athlete Speakers by calling us at 800-916-6008 or by Starting Your Booking Request Now. 

Geno Auriemma Speaks at the Pentagon Sports Leadership Forum: