University of Connecticut Athletics Director David Benedict announced today that Dan Hurley has been selected as the 19th head coach of the UConn men\u2019s basketball program.<\/p>\n
Hurley and the University have agreed to a six-year deal, with a compensation of $2.75 million in the first season. Hurley will be introduced to the university community and the state of Connecticut at a Friday, March 23, press conference at 1 p.m. at the Werth Family UConn Basketball Champions Center, at which further contract details will be provided.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are thrilled to name Dan Hurley as our next coach,\u201d\u00a0said UConn President Susan Herbst.\u00a0\u201cI never doubted for a moment that UConn would be able to attract a coach of Dan\u2019s talent. He understands UConn, student-athletes at this level, and college basketball in the Northeast. I know our entire community will be delighted to welcome Dan, Andrea, and their family to UConn.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI am honored and excited to become the head coach of the UConn men\u2019s basketball program, and I would like to thank President Herbst and David Benedict for this tremendous opportunity,\u201d Hurley said. \u201cThis program, which is part of one of the top public universities in the country, has a championship history and wonderful support from a passionate fan base. I look forward to continuing this proud tradition.\u201d<\/p>\n
Coach Hurley comes to UConn from the University of Rhode Island (URI), where he compiled a 113-82 record in six years as head coach, taking over a program that won just seven games the season before he arrived. He increased that win total to 23 just three seasons later, when he took Rhode Island to the 2015 National Invitation Tournament (NIT). That year, the Rams led the nation in three-point field goal percentage defense (.265), and ranked ninth nationally in defensive efficiency, as Hurley was named District I Coach of the Year by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association.<\/p>\n
\u201cCoach Hurley is the absolute right fit for this university, its student-athletes, and UConn Nation,\u201d said Benedict. \u201cWe were impressed with his turnarounds at Wagner and Rhode Island, and his prior success at St. Benedict\u2019s. His proven track record of developing student-athletes and preparing them for productive lives both in and outside of basketball perfectly aligns with UConn\u2019s values.\u201d<\/p>\n
Prior to his successful run at Rhode Island, Hurley orchestrated the successful two-year turnaround of Wagner University, where he improved the team\u2019s record by eight victories in his first year (2010-11) and by 12 more wins, to 25-6, in his second season.<\/p>\n
Hurley, with a lifetime collegiate record of 151-105, took his last two URI teams to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. His 2017-18 team finished 26-8, won the Atlantic 10 regular season title with a 15-3 league record, and earned him honors as the Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year.<\/p>\n
Although Hurley\u2019s 2015-16 team was beset by injuries, the Rams still won 17 games and were among the national leaders in scoring defense at 64.8 PPG. The following season, Hurley led Rhode Island to 25 wins, the Atlantic 10 Tournament championship, and an NCAA Tournament victory over Creighton before bowing to eventual Final Four participant Oregon. It was URI\u2019s first NCAA tourney appearance in 18 years.<\/p>\n
The 26 wins this past season \u2013 which ended in a second-round loss to Duke in the NCAA tournament \u2013 were the most at URI in eight years. The Rams put together a 16-game winning streak, the second-longest in school history, and spent seven weeks of the season ranked in the Top 25 of the national polls, rising as high as #14 in the USA Today Coaches Poll and #16 in the AP Top 25. In addition to the A-10 Coach of the Year, Hurley was awarded his second District I Coach of the Year honor by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association.<\/p>\n
Before becoming a Division I college head coach, Hurley built his reputation as an outstanding prep school coach at powerhouse St. Benedict\u2019s in Newark, N.J. In nine years at St. Benedict\u2019s, he compiled an impressive 223-21 record, earning four Top Five finishes in the national prep school rankings, and coaching four McDonald\u2019s All-Americans.<\/p>\n
Hurley gained coaching experience as a college assistant for four years (1997-2001) at Rutgers, which followed one year as a prep school assistant at his alma mater, St. Anthony\u2019s in Jersey City, working under his father, Bob Hurley Sr., a legendary prep school coach and Hall of Famer.<\/p>\n