Auriemma, Hatchell net 1,000th wins on same day

UNCASVILLE, CONN. » Geno Auriemma is now a member of one of college basketball’s most elite groups — the 1,000-win club.

And so is his colleague at North Carolina, Sylvia Hatchell

Auriemma became the fourth women’s coach to reach that milestone with No. 1 UConn’s 88-64 win over Oklahoma on Tuesday night in the Hall of Fame women’s Holiday Showcase. He joined Pat Summitt, Tara VanDerveer and Hatchell, who earned her milestone victory earlier Tuesday. Mike Krzyzewski is the only men’s coach to have won 1,000 games.

“It’s a number that’s significant because so few people have been able to do that. It’s funny, two in one day can’t be that hard. There are just so few opportunities to coach that many games. You feel incredibly fortunate that you’re one of a very, very select few and some of the great coaches that ever have coached.”

He is the fastest of the group to achieve the mark, doing so in his 1,135th game. The Hall of Fame coach has gone 500-36 since winning his 500th game in 2003. That includes winning 100 of his last 101 contests.

Hatchell got her 1,000th win in 43 years of coaching when North Carolina beat Grambling State.

She is 1,000-376 during a 43-year career that started with 11 seasons at Francis Marion.

“As far as the 1,000 wins, gosh, I just can’t believe I’ve coached that many games,” said Hatchell, who has battled leukemia and was declared cancer-free in 2014.

Later Tuesday, Auriemma became the fourth member of the 1,000-win club. Auriemma was the fastest ever to 1,000 wins, doing it in 1,135 games.

Haskell is in her 32nd season at North Carolina, and she has led the Tar Heels to eight ACC titles, three Final Fours and the 1994 national championship.