Dan Hurley is the head coach of the UConn Huskies men's basketball team at the University of Connecticut. In 2023 and 2024, Hurley led UConn to back-to-back NCAA Division I national championships.
Hurley was born on January 24, 1973, in Jersey City, New Jersey, into a family deeply rooted in basketball. Raised by his father, Bob Hurley Sr., a legendary high school basketball coach, and his mother, Chris Hurley, he grew up immersed in the game from a young age.
As a standout player at St. Anthony High School in Jersey City, Hurley learned the values of discipline, teamwork, and resilience that would later define his coaching philosophy. Under the guidance of his father, he honed his skills on the court and emerged as a leader both on and off the hardwood.
After his playing days ended, Dan Hurley transitioned into coaching, following in his father's footsteps and forging his own path in the world of basketball. Beginning his coaching career at the high school level, he quickly made a name for himself as a rising star in the coaching ranks.
Hurley's success at the high school level earned him opportunities to coach at the collegiate level, where he continued to excel and build a reputation as a dynamic and innovative coach. His tenure at schools such as Wagner College and the University of Rhode Island showcased his ability to develop talent, instill a winning culture, and lead teams to success on the national stage.
In 2018, Dan Hurley was named the head coach of the UConn Huskies, a storied program with a rich tradition of excellence in college basketball. Tasked with revitalizing the program and returning it to national prominence, he embraced the challenge with determination and resolve.
Under Hurley's leadership, the UConn Huskies experienced a remarkable resurgence, culminating in back-to-back NCAA Division I national championships in 2023 and 2024. His strategic acumen, player development skills, and ability to inspire his team to perform at their best were instrumental in leading UConn to victory on college basketball's biggest stage.
Central to Dan Hurley's life and success is his close-knit family. Married to his wife, Andrea Hurley, he is the proud father of two sons, Danny and Andrew, and a daughter, Grace.
At the heart of Dan Hurley's life and coaching philosophy is his Catholic faith. Raised in a devout Catholic household, he credits his faith for providing him with a strong moral foundation and guiding principles that inform his approach to coaching and leadership.
Hurley says before he began coaching at UConn, he had no set routine for his day. However, he adjusted his schedule so he could wake up earlier to spend the first hours of his day with the Lord. “Your spiritual readings, your prayer, your meditation practice,” Hurley said, explaining the rhythm of his mornings. “For me, [it’s] my journaling, whether it’s free writing or gratitude journaling.”
In an August 2023 interview on "The Ed Mylett Show," Hurley said, "“My foundation is super strong. My foundation starts with my faith — my faith in Jesus Christ. That foundation that I have at home and my faith, like I can handle anything that comes with this job — the criticism, the losing, the going through tough stretches. I am built to handle everything that comes with this job because of my background, my foundation.”
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