The sports career of Dan Hurley, one of the best college basketball coaches

The sports career of Dan Hurley, one of the best college basketball coaches

Agnes Amondi
June 19, 2024 at 1:09 PM
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University of Connecticut
United States
D.Hurley
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Connecticut Huskies (University of Connecticut) logo
Connecticut Huskies (University of Connecticut)

Dan Hurley is the head coach of the University of Connecticut basketball team. He is one of the best coaches in men’s college basketball, and his success has earned him admiration. He has sparked interest from other teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers, who attempted to recruit him, but Hurley decided to stay at UConn. Keep reading to find out more about the sports career of Dan Hurley and background.

The sports career of Dan Hurley
Head coach Dan Hurley of the Connecticut Huskies celebrates Connecticut Huskies winning their sixth championship at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Photo: Mitchell Layton/Getty Images
Source: UGC

Table of Сontents:

Dan comes from a sports family. His father, Bob Hurley, is a renowned basketball coach, and his brother, Bobby Hurley, played in the NBA and is the Arizona State University basketball team coach. Dan, the 2024 Naismith Coach of the Year, has come through leaps and bounds to be where he is today.

Dan Hurley's profile summary

Full name

Dan Hurley

Gender

Male

Date of birth

16 January 1973

Place of birth

Jersey City, New Jersey, United States

Age

51 (as of 2024)

Nationality

American

Position

Head coach

Team

University of Connecticut (UConn Huskies)

Marital status

Married

Wife

Andrea Hurley

Children

Danny Hurley and Andrew Hurley

Net worth

$20 million

Social media

Instagram

The sports career of Dan Hurley

Growing up in a sporty family planted the seed for Hurley to follow the same path. He started his career at St. Antony’s High School and then joined Seton Hall University for his collegiate career. Unlike his brother Bobby, who went into the NBA, Hurley began coaching after graduating.

Dan has coached St. Anthony High School, St. Benedict’s Prep, Wagner, and Rhode Island. He is currently the head coach of the UConn Huskies.

What you need to know about Dan Hurley
Five Facts about Dan Hurley. Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images (modified by author).
Source: Original

Dan Hurley’s playing career

Hurley was one of the best players at St. Antony’s High School. In his senior year, he was the second-ranked player nationally after helping the team to a 31-1 record. At Seton Hall, Hurley occupied the point guard position, playing under the stewardship of Peter John Carlesimo and George Blaney.

His first three seasons were a struggle, with an average of 2.8, 6.1, and 3.5 points per game in 1992, 1993, and 1994, respectively. However, Hurley stepped up in his final two seasons. In 1995, the point guard played 29 games, averaging 13.8 points.

The following year, he started in 26 games, averaging 14.3 points. Hurley played 121 games, scored 1,070 points, and made 437 assists.

Dan Hurley’s college stats

The University of Connecticut graduate had an impressive college career. Here is a table of Dan Hurley's stats per game at Seton Hall, per Sports Reference.

Season

Games

Points per game

Assists per game

Rebounds per game

Free Throw per game

Field goal percentage

1991/92

30

2.8

0.9

0.5

1.0

33.8%

1992/93

34

6.1

3.4

1.8

1.6

39.4%

1993/94

2

3.5

3.0

4.0

0.5

11.8%

1994/95

29

13.8

5.3

2.7

3.8

36.6%

1995/96

26

14.3

5.2

2.7

3.8

39.1%

Dan Hurley’s coaching career

Hurley’s first coaching experience came in his junior year. He was an assistant at St. Anthony's High School. In 1997, he officially launched his coaching career, starting as an assistant at Rutgers, where he worked for four years.

Dan Hurley and Alex Karaban of the Connecticut Huskies
Head coach Dan Hurley and Alex Karaban #11 of the Connecticut Huskies celebrate after winning the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament National Championship game. Photo: Christian Petersen
Source: Getty Images

Dan Hurley at St. Benedict Prep

In 2001, Hurley moved to St. Benedict Prep in Newark, New Jersey, to take up his first coaching job. High school proved to be a good training ground for him to hone his skills. Hurley turned St. Benedict into a high school basketball powerhouse. His wife Andrea told American sports broadcaster Seth Davis how hard he worked.

“He never took a day off, ever. He would always say, ‘I’m going to get fired.’ I’m like, you’re a high school history teacher. You’re not going to get fired.’ ”

In nine years, he managed a 223-21 record, finished in the top five of the national rankings four times and worked with former NBA players Lance Thomas, J.R. Smith and current player Tristan Thompson.

Dan Hurley at Wagner and Rhode Island

Between 2010 and 2012, Hurley coached at Wagner (2010 to 2012) and guided them to a 25-6 record in his second and final season. The coach spent the next four years at the University of Rhode Island (URI).

He overturned the team’s 7-28 record to a 51-18. For the first time since 1999, URI played in the NCAA tournaments in 2017 and 2018. After six years, Hurley turned down a long-term offer to work at UConn.

Dan Hurley at UConn

Dan Hurley giving instructions in a game
Head coach Dan Hurley of the Connecticut Huskies during the National College Basketball Championship game at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Photo: Mitchell Layton
Source: Getty Images

In 2018, he began his reign as the UConn Huskies head coach. The team won its first three games and beat a nationally ranked team for the first time in three years.

In 2021, the Huskies qualified for the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2016 but lost in the first round. They returned to the competition in 2022 but failed to progress past the first round.

In 2023, the UConn Huskies qualified for a third consecutive championship and won it. According to Sportico, Dan Hurley’s UConn contract was extended in June 2024 by six years for $32.1 million.

In 2024, the UConn Huskies dominated college basketball. Hurley led them to a winning record of 37 games. They won the Big East title and the Big East Tournament. For the first time in its history, UConn was the number-one seed in the NCAA Tournament and won with a tournament record of 140 points.

Hurley was the 2024 Big East Coach of the Year and the Naismith College Coach of the Year.

What is Dan Hurley’s salary?

In June 2023, he signed a six-year contract extension worth $32.1 million, making him one of the highest-paid coaches in college basketball. Heavy estimates that he earns around $5.35 million per season.

Basketball coaching is his primary source of income. As of 2024, Celebrity Net Worth estimated Dan Hurley's net worth at $20 million.

Dan Hurley's bio

Dan Hurley (aged 51 as of 2024) was born in New Jersey on 16 January 1973. He is 1.88 metres or 6 feet 2 inches tall.

Who is Dan Hurley’s wife?

Dan Hurley and his family
Dan Hurley (L), his wife Andrea Hurley (middle) and their two sons, Danny (back) and Andrew Hurley (R)
Source: UGC

Dan Hurley’s wife is Andrea Sirakides. They met when they were students at Seton Hall University. Their friendship kicked off and blossomed into a romance. The two tied the knot on 29 August 1997 and have two sons, Andrew Hurley and Danny Hurley.

Dan Hurley’s brother

Arizona State head coach Bobby Hurley is Dan’s brother. He also played for St. Anthony’s High School before representing Duke University. In 1993, the Sacramento Kings drafted Bobby as a first-round, seventh-overall pick. He played there for five years and then moved to the Vancouver Grizzlies in 1998, where he finished his playing career.

In 2010, Bobby started his coaching career as an assistant at Wagner. After two years, he moved to Rhode Island as an associate head coach. His first coaching job was at the University of Buffalo. After two years, he joined Arizona State.

Dan Hurley’s news

Dan Hurley has not worked in the NBA in his sports career. He reportedly turned down a six-year deal from the Lakers worth around $70 million. CTPost reports that Dan Hurley’s agent, Bret Just and the UConn leadership are negotiating a new contract that might top some of the highest-paid college coaches.

Frequently asked questions

Dan Hurley's father set a high standard for him and his brother. The pressure took away his freedom to play, and he became fixated on delivering on the expectations. Here is more about the basketball coach.

Did Dan Hurley play college basketball?

Dan Hurley was a point guard at Seton Hall University under the leadership of P.J. Carlesimo and George Blaney.

Why did Dan Hurley get a technical?

Dan Hurley received a technical during a game against St. John's at Madison Square Garden for pointing out aggressive fans. A fan who yelled at him irritated him, calling on officials to take action.

Why did Dan Hurley reject the Lakers' offer?

Dan Hurley's decision to reject the Lakers is driven by his appetite to pursue a historic third consecutive NCAA title with the UConn Huskies.

How much does Dan Hurley make?

Dan Hurley's six-year, $23.1 million contract guarantees him $5.35 million per season. However, this could increase as UConn is negotiating a new deal after he elected to stay.

How much did Kentucky offer Dan Hurley?

The University of Kentucky reportedly offered Dan Hurley $11 million annually for five years. The deal would have made him the highest-paid college coach.

Final word

The sports career of Dan Hurley is blossoming at the UConn Huskies. His choice to overlook the NBA and transition into coaching has turned out to be the right one. Hurley is continuing his family's legacy in the game and is already among the best in college basketball. Will he ever make the big jump to coach in the NBA?

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Authors
Agnes Amondi photo
Agnes Amondi
Agnes Amondi is a journalist and a versatile sports content writer with 6 years of experience. She wrote for several publications; soka25east.com, Her Football Hub, Tisini, and Spotcovery
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