ST. LOUIS — Geno Auriemma, two wins shy of leading Connecticut to its third unbeaten season, is The Associated Press' college basketball coach of the year for the sixth time.

Auriemma won the award last season and also in 1995, 1997, 2000, 2003. It's the first time since the award started in 1995, that a coach has won in consecutive seasons.

UConn is 37-0 and this season is winning by an average of nearly 30 points. The Huskies haven't let anyone come within single digits all season.

Auriemma has a 694-122 record — the best winning percentage in women's basketball history. He received 27 votes from the 45-member national media panel that selects the weekly Top 25, easily beating Nell Fortner of Auburn, who had seven.