UConn Men’s basketball head coach Dan Hurley has been around the game his entire life, thanks to his father, Bob Hurley Sr. When it comes to coaching, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree for the Huskies coach. His father, regarded as one of the best high school coaches in history, is often visible at UConn games.

Bob Hurley wasn’t just a successful coach, he also raised two NCAA coaches. But this is only part of the story. With high expectations comes a lot of pressure to succeed, both from family and self, and Dan Hurley felt that pressure, too. Yet, it was his father who kept the fire inside him alive.

Bob Hurley – the Hall of Famer

Both on and off the court, standards were set high for the Hurley boys. “Back then, you had to get your quizzes and tests signed by your parents, especially if you did bad. So, s**t, I would be so scared. I’d try to forge my old man’s name because I was like, there’s no way I’m showing my dad a 71 on a math test. That’s what the standard was,” Dan Hurley revealed.

How could it not be? His father, Bob Hurley, was a renowned coach of his time. He began his coaching career in 1967 at a school run by Felician Sisters with one of the smallest student bodies — St. Anthony’s. Many of the students lived near or below the poverty line, and it was here that Hurley Sr. thrived. In the years next, he would lead over 150 players to Division I basketball programs, all on full scholarships.

He even coached six first-round picks, including his own son, Bobby Hurley. He would eventually be offered several college coaching offers, but he declined them all because he believed it was “his destiny”. Instead, went on to become one of the very few high school coaches to be inducted to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

There was more to the coach

While a coach, for the most of his career, Hurley Sr. was also employed as a probation officer until his retirement in 2008. His role there, would have a direct impact on his coaching at St. Anthony’s. It allowed him to learn the “world of his players” and was determined to not see them jailed again. It is hard, he had admitted. Afterward, he worked briefly at the Jersey City Recreation Department before retiring again. Meanwhile, he had another role he excelled at—being a father.

Hurley Sr. had received an offer from Xavier University. The family had prepared to move, but his sons would stand against it. The two brothers wanted to play for his dad at St. Anthony’s and had only watched him coach growing up. “Most kids would be in favor of their dad earning a pay raise, a promotion and moving into a bigger house. But my brother, Bobby, and I were crushed,” Dan had revealed. After learning about this, Hurley Sr. decided not to accept the offer.

As a great coach, he always ensured the family’s name shone bright.

Christine Hurley mom to not just her children

Though not much is known about Dan Hurley’s mom, Christine, Regis University publication reveals that she helped Hurley Sr. with his coaching at the high school. She acted as an official ‘scorekeeper’ and an unofficial ‘mom’ for the team since not all students there had an opportunity to experience ‘traditional family environment’.

Back home, while Hurley Sr. taught his children life skills, she offered immense love at home to all three siblings—Dan, Melissa, and Bobby. Even when Dan faced depression, she ensured he was not alone and helped him pull through. Though she hasn’t been spoken about much, her love is evident through all the game she attends and all the love Dan showers over her.

“I am just so proud of him. Of what he has accomplished. This is the best ever, best ever,” she had expressed as Dan Hurley claimed his championship. Later on mother’s day, Dan would share an image of him embracing her, captioning the post, “Everything you did ended up working…Thanks Mom!! Love you!”

All focus on excelling at Hurley household

Growing up in Jersey came with its own set of pros and cons for Hurley. His brother, Bobby Hurley’s success, made things even harder. By the time his brother had achieved 28 state championships and three USA Today National Coach of the Year titles, Hurley was forced to watch from the sidelines. The atmosphere was tough in the Hurley family, always aiming at excellence. It was a mounting pressure for the UConn Huskies coach, who wasn’t comfortable opening up to his father yet.

“I mean, it was tough for me to differentiate between coach and father,” he once shared on the *Mental Game* podcast.

It was his internal struggles that held him back. While he was extremely happy for and respected his brother’s success, the downside was that it raised the bar even higher. “The way to build a life out of that environment is through excellence in something—either you become a great student or you excel in some sport,” Hurley revealed. But he clarifies that “It was more of a me issue than a him issue.”

It took him some time and courage, but Dan Hurley had the conversation with his father and “A lot of times, it went from coach/father-son to just straight father-son.” 

Now Bob Hurley is proud of where his son is or “couldn’t be prouder,” as he puts it after Dan won the second consecutive NCAA Championship titles. Dan Hurley also had his high school love and now wife, Andrea Hurley, by his side, helping him with a schedule to follow that included reading books and exercising among others. At the end of the day, getting a family like Hurley’s was truly a blessing for him.