“Amount of lives he changed”: Dan Hurley shares 2 things he models from legendary coach and father Bob Hurley
Dan Hurley has achieved immense success with the UConn Huskies since becoming the program's head coach in 2018. As the son of legendary high school basketball coach Bob Hurley, the 51-year-old has drawn on key lessons from his father, which have helped him make his name known in college basketball.
Appearing on Jim Tressel's "It's All About the Team" podcast, the Huskies' coach spoke highly about how he has impacted lives and highlighted two core lessons he learned from his father: the importance of family and the importance of letting his personality shine in his coaching approach.
Tressel questioned the younger Hurley about the most recognized aspects of his father, and he replied:
"Most state championships in the history of high school basketball, the national championships, the amount of lives he changed."
"I think it was really just two things that I've always tried to model. With my dad, obviously, we had an incredibly tight-knit family. Me, my brother Bobby, my sister Melissa, my parents, we were a really strong starting five. We were just so connected and so supportive of each other," Dan added.
Dan Hurley expressed pride in his father's qualities both as a coach and as a dad.
"Then, obviously, watching my dad as a coach, just how he poured every single thing that he had within his person into his players, into his team and into his family. That's pretty much all my dad really focused on," he said.
"We're not really well-rounded people, us Hurleys. We don't have a lot, but our team and our family."
Dan Hurley's father, Bob Hurley, won 28 state championships in his high school basketball career as coach, turning the St. Anthony High School's basketball program into one of the strongest in the nation before its closure. He was enshrined into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010.
Dan Hurley on the cusp of history
Dan Hurley has turned the Huskies men's basketball program into one of the best in the country, leading them to consecutive national championships in the last two seasons.
In the upcoming season, Hurley and the Huskies have the rare opportunity to complete a "threepeat," which would make them the first team to achieve this since the dominant 1967-73 UCLA Bruins.
The Huskies looked sharp in their 102-75 victory against Rhode Island in an exhibition game on Oct. 14. However, Hurley said the team still needs to improve ahead of the 2024-25 season, with their season opener set for Nov. 6, when they will host the Sacred Heart Pioneers.