Dan Hurley Finds Peace in Troubled Boat as UConn Coach’s Chaotic Style Echoes Jim Calhoun, Claim Analysts

When the UConn Huskies tipped off their season, they were widely regarded as top contenders for the Championship title. However, their performance at the Maui Invitational painted a very different picture as the Huskies lost all three of their games, finishing in last place despite entering the tournament as the best-ranked team. As the dust settles, head coach Dan Hurley seems to have found some solace amid the criticism, but questions about his leadership style persist. Fans and analysts alike are drawing comparisons between Hurley and former UConn coach Jim Calhoun.

On Sunday’s episode of Locked on UConn, hosts Dan Meehan and Mark Zanetto didn’t hold back in analyzing Hurley’s temperament and how it might be impacting the team’s performance. “The idea that Dan Hurley has to change it all is so overblown and my favorite comment of the weekend and I retweeted it I think a couple hours ago. She’s been on the show. It’s not her real name, but she’s the press secretary for UConn- Marie LeBrun. She said ‘Awesome Twitter follow my column, how Dan Hurley needs to smile more.'” Zanetto stated.

The Huskies press secretary Marie LeBrun had tweeted “Why Dan Hurley Should Try Smiling More. My column:” on Sunday and had a picture of the Huskies at the XL Center with every fan in the audience standing and clapping for Dan Hurley. For the unversed, the 51-year-old berated officials followed by outbursts on the poor performances, and broke the bench decorum numerous times at the aforementioned Maui Invitational. 

“Like come on that’s essentially what they’re telling him is like hey don’t take it so seriously I mean it’s not that big a deal it’s not war right it’s his job take your job seriously,” Zanetto expounded. However, when he came for the Huskies’ next game against the Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks on Sunday, Hurley was calmer than he often is, probably due to his team’s outstanding performance that helped them win the game by a blowout margin of 99-45.

Nonetheless, reporters recommended that the 2x NCAA championship-winning coach should be happier more than often. And for his nature, he was compared to the former Huskies HC Calhoun.

Dan Hurley gets compared to Jim Calhoun

Since taking over as head coach of the UConn Huskies in 2018, Dan Hurley has faced inevitable comparisons to Jim Calhoun, who led the team until 2012. Calhoun, a three-time NCAA tournament-winning coach, was known for his fiery demeanor and relentless pursuit of excellence. Dee Rowe, a former coach and mentor, once described Calhoun as “a two-fisted, stand-up guy who fought for every inch.” Now, as Hurley navigates his emotional approach to coaching, the parallels between the two are drawing attention.

On a recent episode of Locked on UConn, Dan Meehan highlighted Hurley’s subdued demeanor during the Huskies’ latest outing, noting, “Hurley read the room well. You couldn’t hear him yelling or anything tonight.” However, Meehan also observed shades of Calhoun in Hurley’s coaching style, particularly in his quick reactions to player mistakes. “Hurley was doing a lot of coaching tonight. Every single foul seemed to result in him yanking the guy off the floor—it was like a flashback to the old Jim Calhoun days. He’d pull you out and remind you.”

The game itself saw UConn commit 21 fouls, giving their opponents 25 opportunities at the free-throw line. While the Huskies ultimately secured a decisive victory, such lapses could prove costly against stronger competition. For now, Hurley appears intent on striking a balance between passion and poise, aiming to channel his energy constructively.

As he continues to steer the Huskies forward, his ability to manage his emotions could be key to silencing critics and cementing his legacy in UConn’s storied basketball history.