Amid the grieving stories related to Covid-19 and the civil protest and unrest across the nation, readers are desperately seeking uplifting news.  It is time to be inspired by the endless possibilities of the human spirit. One story that meets this standard, and leads us out of this dark chapter in history, at least momentarily, is that of Geno Auriemma, the head coach of the University of Connecticut Women’s Basketball Team.  

His story reminds us of how our early experiences and struggles can shape our identity. For Coach Auriemma, he attributes his success to his hometown Montella, a small mountain village located in the province of Avellino, Italy.  A narrow dirt road led to his family’s tiny stone house. “We used to sleep in front of the fireplace because we had no heat or electricity and we heated up our water over an open flame,” explained the legendary Huskies coach.