UConn coach Dan Hurley opens up about battling depression: “You’re just wondering if it’s worth the suffering”
Although Dan Hurley is recognized for his leadership abilities and basketball knowledge, the championship coach went through struggles during his college days. He recently shared dealing with heavy drinking, a disconnection from his faith in God and, ultimately, a growing resentment for basketball during his college years.
The UConn coach opened up about his mental health challenges during college in an episode of "The Mental Game" podcast released on Oct. 9. When host Brandon Saho asked Hurley about his experiences with suicidal thoughts, he shared a specific moment and the events that led him to be in a dark place.
“Around that time, there was definitely times driving home, post-leaving the Seton Hall team, you go to see a psychiatrist with my mother at the time, and you get diagnosed with depression," he said.
"And you're being told that you need a medical solution to that and that hits you pretty hard. And you decide against it and you're looking for a different way to health or to recovery for yourself there."
However, Hurley mentioned that he was able to rebuild his life after contemplating whether the suffering was worth it.
"But shortly after that when I was able to pry myself from my dorm room at Seton Hall and returned to Jersey City to try to rebuild my life ... that was really, really tough as you're really, really in some bad places, and you're just wondering if it's if it's worth the suffering.”
Apart from being one of the best coaching minds in the Division I circuit, Dan Hurley is also a mental health advocate. He has candidly discussed his struggles several times, whether related to basketball or his personal life, aiming to break down the stigma surrounding mental health amongmen and athletes.
Dan Hurley's Huskies aim for rare three-peat
UConn made history this year after defeating Purdue in the NCAA finals. The Huskies became the first program since Florida in 2007 to clinch back-to-back NCAA titles.
This coming season, Dan Hurley's Huskies will try to achieve a three-peat. The only team to win three consecutive titles is the UCLA Bruins. Under legendary coach John Wooden, the program mounted multiple three-peats from 1964-1973.
The Huskies are entering the season with high-profile newcomers Tarris Reed, Aidan Mahaney, Liam McNeeley, Ahmad Nowell and Isaiah Abraham.