"I've never seen him like that": When Dan Hurley revealed his father Bob Hurley's "emotional" reaction to UConn's NCAA championship
Dan Hurley will never forget his father Bob Hurley's reaction to him winning the NCAA championship with the UConn Huskies in the 2022-23 season. The coach talked about the emotional scene with his dad after capturing his first NCAA title in an interview with former Villanova coach Jay Wright for CBS Sports' original series "Home Court," which premiered on Nov. 10, 2023.
Hurley opened up about his coaching career with UConn to Wright, who won two NCAA titles with Villanova (in 2016 over the North Carolina Tar Heels and in 2018 over the Michigan Wolverines). What piqued Wright's interest during the interview was the moment the Hurleys shared after UConn claimed its fifth NCAA title in 2023.
Wright asked Hurley what his father, a legendary high school coach, said to him after the Huskies defeated the San Diego State Aztecs in the national championship game.
"I’ve never seen him like that," Hurley said (Timestamp: 12:42). "He’s mellowed a lot. He’s shown more of that emotional, loving side of him especially since he’s retired. It was just like ‘I love you. I can’t believe what you’ve accomplished. I can’t believe that I was along with you for this.'"
Hurley noticed the expression on Wright's face change when he uttered those words about his father.
"Anyone who knows him has a look of shock on their face, just like you have," Hurley said.
Wright explained to the UConn coach why he reacted that way.
"It’s not that I wouldn’t think he’s capable, but Bob Hurley is one of the toughest guys I’ve ever met," Wright said. "That’s really cool to hear that he’s able to get to that point."
Bob Hurley spent his entire coaching career with St. Anthony, leading the high school's basketball team to 26 state championships during his 39-year reign. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010, becoming one of the few high school coaches to achieve that feat.
Dan Hurley shows coaching brilliance runs in the family with back-to-back NCAA titles
The UConn Huskies embarked on another championship run following Dan Hurley's interview with Jay Wright. They successfully defended their title in the 2023-24 season, beating Stetson, Northwestern, San Diego State, Illinois and Alabama in the NCAA Tournament before defeating the Purdue Boilermakers in the national championship game.
The Huskies became the first team since the Florida Gators in 2006 and 2007 to capture back-to-back NCAA titles. Hurley also entered the record books, becoming the second active NCAA head coach to win two national championships.