"God bless whoever coaches her": UConn's Geno Auriemma once playfully warned future coaches of "stubborn" Nika Muhl

UConn coach Geno Auriemma was one of the first to learn about Nika Muhl's departure from the Huskies as the team was preparing for the 2024 NCAA tournament. In a press conference earlier this year, he said he did not attempt to change her mind as his words would not have made a difference.

"I knew when Nika makes up her mind on something she is pretty stubborn about things," Auriemma said. "I said to one member of my staff, 'God bless whoever coaches her when she is a little bit older.' Can you imagine how impossible she is going to be?"

While Geno Auriemma pointed at Muhl's stubbornness, the Croatian pointed at the struggles of playing under his coaching. Nevertheless, she called the coach her mentor and friend and said she would miss playing for him.

"I learned so much from that man, and I'm still learning," Muhl said. "I'm going to be learning from him after I leave. He's everything to me. I love him so much. He's not just my coach, he's my best friend, he's like my grandpa. It's hard to play for him, but it's going to be so hard not to play for him," she added.

Nika Muhl used Geno Auriemma's car to reveal her departure from UConn

Muhl was part of many emotional moments throughout her last year at UConn. So, when it came to revealing her decision to move on from the university, she wanted it to be something fun.

Nika Muhl ended up borrowing Geno Auriemma's Mercedez and posted five photos.

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"Last ride with my G <3 ✌🏼out Uconn Nation, I will miss you so much!," Muhl wrote.

Even though Auriemma allowed the youngster to use his car for the shoot, he said he took back the steering wheel as soon as she was done clicking pictures.

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