Geno Auriemma Explains Why There Is a Decline in Women's Coaches

Connecticut Huskies women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma offered his opinion on why the percentage of female head coaches in women's college basketball has fallen in recent years.

"There's a reason why there's not as many opportunities for women. Not as many women want to coach," Auriemma said Thursday, per USA Today's Lindsay H. Jones. "It's quite simple."

Jones noted the percentage of female head coaches in Division I basketball in 2015-16 was 56 percent, down from 63 percent in 2007-08.

Auriemma has received criticism for his comments.

Deadspin's Emma Baccellieri (Warning: link contains NSFW language) argued the legendary coach failed to acknowledge structural factors, such as discriminatory hiring, that affect women looking to coach at Division I schools.

Stanford head coach Tara VanDerveer said athletic directors have a role to play in opening coaching doors for qualified women.

"If athletic directors want more women in women's basketball, maybe they have to look in the mirror and say, 'All right, how can we make this happen?'" she said, per Jones. "There are women. If you want women in your jobs, you have to look to hire them."

Auriemma and VanDerveer are on opposite sides of the bracket as the Final Four tips off Friday. Auriemma's Huskies play the Mississippi State Bulldogs, while VanDerveer will look to lead her Cardinal team past the South Carolina Gamecocks.