Dan Hurley led UConn to back-to-back NCAA championships in 2023 and 2024. Under his guidance, the Huskies implemented a play-centric, high-IQ system that maximized their players’ ability to exploit lanes and make quick decisions. His development of NBA talent is impressive, with Jordan Hawkins drafted by the Pelicans in 2023 and both Stephon Castle (4th pick) and Donovan Clingan (7th pick) selected in the 2024 NBA Draft. Given this track record, many argue that Dan Hurley deserves recognition as the top coach in the nation.
Back-to-back Champion Not Top Coach In the Nation
Hurley’s success in revitalizing UConn and building an elite roster is undeniable. However, according to Busting Brackets’ 2024-2025 coach rankings, Dan Hurley is not the top coach. He is ranked second, just behind Kansas’ Bill Self, a college basketball legend. Self’s legacy includes 16 Big 12 titles and two national championships, with his most recent title in 2022. His unparalleled consistency has solidified his position at the top.
Hurley’s recent success might suggest that he deserves the number one spot, but Self’s two-decade dominance, longevity, and regular-season mastery are difficult to overlook. While Hurley is the rising force in college basketball, Self remains the standard of sustained greatness.
Different Ways to Greatness
Hurley and Self employ contrasting styles of play. It is reflective of their unique basketball philosophies.
Hurley’s Philosophy
Hurley’s UConn system is highly structured and emphasizes a play-centric approach. It revolves around precise execution and intelligent decision-making. His offensive schemes focus on spacing and ball movement. These allow players to exploit defensive weaknesses by driving into open lanes. This requires high-IQ players who can adapt quickly, read the defense, and make quick, effective decisions. His teams are known for their toughness, discipline, and ability to score efficiently from both inside and outside the arc. Dan Hurley has become a top coach using this ‘basketball poetry’ style. A style so attractive that he was heavily recruited by the Lakers this offseason.
On defense, Hurley emphasizes versatility, with an aggressive approach to perimeter defense and strong rebounding. His teams disrupt opponents with pressure, forcing turnovers and speeding up the game. These principles fueled UConn’s back-to-back championships, creating a balance between offensive fluidity and defensive intensity.
Self’s Philosophy
In contrast, Bill Self’s Kansas teams are characterized by a more traditional, balanced style, focusing on high-low post play, pick-and-rolls, and man-to-man defense. Self is known for his ability to develop dominant big men, and his offenses often run through the frontcourt, taking advantage of size mismatches. His teams excel at playing inside-out, using the post to collapse defenses and create open perimeter shots for guards.
Self’s defense is known for its consistency and physicality. He employs a straight man-to-man system with limited switching, relying on individual matchups and disciplined help defense. His teams are also strong on the glass, often ranking among the best in the nation in rebounding.
The Last Word
In summary, while Hurley’s style has yielded back-to-back championships with an adaptable, fast-paced approach, Self’s traditional, power-based system has provided consistent success over two decades. Each approach has its merits, and the choice between them comes down to a preference for either innovation or consistency. Both are top-tier coaches, but their contrasting styles reflect different philosophies on how to win in college basketball.
In evaluating the two, Hurley’s case hinges on his recent national titles and player development, while Self’s claim to the top is rooted in a broader body of work. Although the debate continues, both coaches exemplify excellence, making the competition for the top spot fiercer than ever. In short, while Hurley is a back-to-back champion, Self’s overall body of work still cements his place as the best in the game today.
