2x UConn champ Dan Hurley reveals why he'd be a better football coach than basketball: "It's just my intensity"
Dan Hurley has led the UConn Huskies to back-to-back championships, making them the first program to do him in over 15 years. The feat alone makes him one of the best coaching minds active in the basketball world and pits him with an opportunity to create history - a three-peat.
However, Dan Hurley believes that his coaching acumen could have been of a better use on the gridiron, instead of the maple hardwood. Hurley was behind the mic during the recent MLB game between the Red Sox and Yankees, answering whether great coaching can translate to multiple sports.
"The leadership piece and the psychology, the motivation, the relationship building," Hurley said. "Just all that stuff, like leading men through the ups and downs of the season. I think I would be a better football coach than basketball actually. Just my intensity, I think it's more, it fits football guys," he added.
One of the reasons Dan Hurley rejected the Los Angeles Lakers' $70 million offer to become an NBA coach was his process at UConn. Hurley is responsible for overseeing all the aspects of the roster, be it managing, creating a culture, recruiting and even scouting.
These elements are constant in almost every team sport and can allow most of Hurley's skills to affect the scoreboard.
Dan Hurley rejected Donovan Clingan's plan to return for a three-peat
Just like Alex Karaban returned to UConn in hopes of a three-peat, the program’s star Donovan Clingan had his mind set on the same. However, Dan Hurley rejected his proposal to rejoin the unit.
“I went into Coach Hurley’s office and I was like, ‘Yo coach I’ll come back, I will go for another one.’ He is like ‘You’re out of your mind bro. Get the hell out of here.’ And I guess I had to go,” Clingan said on the Knuckleheads podcast. (starts at 5:01)
Clingan was monumental for UConn's championship journeys. He was dependable with his 65.5% shooting touch while coming off the bench in the initial run. Moreover, he played significant minutes in the second run, averaging 13 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.5 blocks (63.9% shooting).
He was picked up by the Portland Trailblazers as seventh overall in the 2024 NBA draft.