Right here’s my level: If the NBA workforce had provided $100 million as a substitute, I believe Hurley would nonetheless be at Connecticut.
Why? Historical past, household and — maybe most of all — happiness.
There’s an outdated saying in teaching: “By no means run away from happiness.” The listing of coaches who have run away for more cash, extra fame or extra glamour and ended up unemployed is an extended one. The Lakers have received one title since 2010, and that was within the pandemic bubble. Their latest custom is to a hearth a coach about each two years. After the previous two seasons, Hurley can keep at Connecticut without end and a day.
Consider the coaches who opted for the NBA after nice success on the faculty degree — guys like Rick Pitino and John Calipari, to not point out John Beilein, Fred Hoiberg, Lon Kruger and P.J. Carlesimo, Hurley’s first faculty coach at Seton Corridor. After their failures within the NBA, all raced again to school ball — besides Beilein and Carlesimo, who each went into broadcasting.
Billy Donovan and Brad Stevens had some success within the NBA however have by no means received titles, though Stevens could also be about to win one as president of the Celtics.
There may be nothing inherently improper with going from faculty to the professionals, particularly with the chaos happening on the faculty degree. However U-Conn. isn’t in chaos; it’s in heaven. The Huskies have received two straight NCAA titles, solely the third faculty since John Picket’s retirement to take action. The primary of these colleges was Duke in 1991 and 1992, led by some extent guard named Bobby Hurley.
Dan Hurley’s journey to the highest of the NCAA hoops mountain may be very a lot tied to the success of his older brother and the teaching success of his father. Bob Sr., who coached at St. Anthony’s in Jersey Metropolis for 45 seasons, is one among only a handful of highschool coaches within the Basketball Corridor of Fame. Each brothers speak about listening to their father speak about opponents as in the event that they had been the Invoice Russell Celtics.
“Each workforce they performed was nice,” Dan instructed me years in the past. “He was satisfied his guys must play an ideal sport to also have a probability to win. Then they’d win by 20 — or 30.”
Danny was a very good highschool participant, however the star of the household was Bobby, who not solely was a part of the 2 nationwide championship groups however is nonetheless the all-time Division I assists chief.
Danny, two years youthful, went to Seton Corridor and was a part-time participant for 2 seasons on good groups. However the strain of being Bobby’s little brother overwhelmed him, and he left the workforce two video games into his junior yr with points involving alcohol and despair. He returned as a redshirt junior and averaged about 14 factors as a junior and senior, ending his profession with greater than 1,000 factors. Very strong, except in comparison with Bobby.
After being taken seventh within the 1993 NBA draft, Bobby’s profession was blown up in a December 1993 automobile crash, when his automobile was broadsided on his method dwelling from a sport. Though he recovered sufficient to play part-time for 4 extra seasons, he was by no means the identical: The accident stole his quickness and velocity.
It was then that the brothers reversed roles. Bobby received away from basketball nearly utterly, getting concerned with coaching horses. “I had wanted a while to mourn for my enjoying profession,” Bobby as soon as instructed me. “I used to be haunted a bit of by what had occurred. However I missed the sport. When Dan had the prospect, I stated, ‘Go for it,’ pondering perhaps I’d go together with him.”
After a quick stint as an assistant coach at Rutgers, Dan adopted his father into highschool teaching in New Jersey, taking on this system at St. Benedict’s Prep. He went 223-21 in 9 seasons earlier than being employed by Wagner. It was there that he satisfied Bobby to get into teaching as his prime assistant. When Dan, after going 25-6, was employed two seasons later at Rhode Island, Bobby went with him. Six years later, Dan received the U-Conn. job. The remaining is historical past. (Bobby is now at Arizona State, the place his groups have been up and down.)
Dan and his household love dwelling in Connecticut. His mother and father drive the 2 hours to nearly each dwelling sport. His son Andrew was a walk-on for each nationwide title groups. And Dan Hurley is nicely conscious that he has an opportunity to be the primary coach since Picket to win three straight nationwide titles. Even his brother’s 1993 Duke workforce couldn’t match that feat.
The Hurley household stays very shut. The brothers speak nearly every single day. “The distinction is I’m often hiding below a mattress once we speak on sport day,” Dan likes to say. His temperament might be not perfect for 100-plus video games per yr, which a professional job may require, however who is aware of? He’s solely 51 and will definitely have extra profitable alternatives within the not-too-distant future.
If the faculty sport turns into any extra insane than it already is, he may determine to learn how he can do within the NBA — the place there are not any identify, picture and likeness offers, no switch portal and no impending courtroom choices on who will get paid and the way a lot.
For now, although, Hurley has each cause to be glad at Connecticut. Most significantly, he’s sensible sufficient to know that.
