On Thursday, Uconn announced the extension of men’s basketball head coach Dan Hurley. The contract is for six years and guarantees nearly $33 million for Hurley. However, the contract also includes incentives for athletic and academic success that could increase the worth of the extension. The extension comes nearly three months after Uconn’s 76-59 March Madness championship win over San Diego State.
What Dan Hurley’s Extension Means for Uconn
Uconn’s Coaching Carousel
Hurley coached previously for Wagner and Rhode Island before being hired by Uconn in 2018. What ensued from that point on has reshaped Uconn basketball. Kevin Ollie, the head coach before Hurley, led the Huskies to a national title in 2014. We will never forget the heroics of Shabazz Napier as he led Uconn over Kentucky 60-54. Nonetheless, Uconn basketball began to slide down a steep slope. They did not have a season with fewer than ten losses and only made one NCAA Tournament after their 2014 championship. Then, in 2018, the school suddenly fired Coach Ollie.
He was under investigation for ethical misconduct in the summer of 2018 during the recruiting process. Ollie was specifically accused of providing false or misleading information about phone calls between former Huskies Ray Allen, Utah Jazz guard Rudy Gay, and a top recruit. Additionally, Ollie had “impermissible contact with a recruit, provided impermissible meals to a pair of recruits during unofficial visits, and shot with a recruit during an unofficial visit” (ESPN). After the firing, Ollie demanded Uconn pay his remaining salary. Uconn appealed but ultimately paid Ollie the remaining $11 million in September 2022.
Hurley’s Huskies struggled in his first two seasons. They went below 500 in his inaugural season and 19-12 in his second, missing out on both tournaments. Many doubted that Hurley was the solution to Uconn’s problems. Regardless, Hurley desired to bring glory back to Storrs. He did not choose the position for money, as he was offered a more lucrative deal from Pitt in 2018. He chose Uconn because of its history and because of their then-impending move to the Big East.
Why Did Uconn Pick Dan Hurley?
Well, he is not like any other coach. The mentality he possesses sets him apart from every other coach. Hurley does not sugarcoat; rather, he tells it like it is. He understands that there is a certain style of coaching that can be successful at Uconn. Jim Calhoun, who led Uconn to three national titles, had that mentality. Those who played under Calhoun, like Kemba Walker and Richard Hamilton, were subject to Calhoun’s ‘tough love’ coaching style. This brought out the best in his players, especially Kevin Ollie. Ollie adopted Calhoun’s coaching personality traits, and now Hurley is doing the same. Hurley is known for his choice words for referees and his Shakespeareesque speeches during team huddles. In one huddle, when explaining to his team how they need to crash the glass more, he shouts, “You don’t want your toughness to be doubted, ever!”
Hurley always has his eyes on the end goal. He even put cardboard cutouts of the Big East and NCAA trophies in the practice gym. He gives his players hope during practice and timeouts, and they respond on the court.
“Hurley is a great coach who knows how to develop his players. He pushed me to improve my skills and challenged me to become a better leader. His coaching style may be tough, but it ultimately made me a better player.” – James Bouknight, a former player at UConn.
Uconn’s Future
Hurley’s dedication to player development is directly related to Uconn’s success. “We don’t have all these banners on the wall because of players that came in as the No. one player in the country and then left as the No. 1 pick, and you basically babysat them for six months. We’ve been able to do it with players who, coming in, were not considered early-entry or even NBA players at all. I think smart people recognize that you’re improving and that player development is a real thing,” says Hurley.
He developed 2023 NBA Draftees Andre Jackson Jr, Adama Sanogo, and Jordan Hawkins into NBA-ready stars. Uconn’s stock as a blue blood has risen, and with that has come more highly touted recruits. Guys like rising Sophomore Donovan Clingan and incoming Freshman Stephon Castle recognize what Coach Hurley is buildings at Uconn. They want to be a part of it.
Therefore, this extension means so much more for Uconn than people think. Uconn’s attraction is at an all-time high. A high that hasn’t been reached in nearly a decade. Uconn. Is. Back.
