“Human furnace of intensity” is often used to describe Dan Hurley. As UConn’s head coach, he stands on the edge of history, returning his team to the brink of a third consecutive NCAA title — a trifecta unseen since John Wooden’s days at UCLA. But with half the team walking after the season, what drives Hurley’s relentless pursuit of winning? Is it just about the thrill of winning, or is it more personal? And so, as he moves through the minefield of college basketball, what makes him different from other coaches?

In Hurley’s words, he described how his philosophy differs from what many programs are doing nowadays. “Most colleges are stealing ball screen offensive ideas from the NBA, whereas for us, it was about off-ball movement: less dribbling, more passing, more cutting, and more screening. This approach would represent more of a European professional model.” Rather than the up-and-down, run-and-gun offense the NBA has morphed into, Hurley is all about methodical, disciplined basketball. It isn’t always pretty, but it works, and that’s all that matters for a guy who hopes UConn sets itself apart in an era of prolific basketball offenses.

But here’s where it gets interesting: Hurley was reportedly offered a huge opportunity. The Lakers offered Hurley a six-year deal worth $70 million, making him one of the highest-paid NBA coaches. That’s massive, right? Why wouldn’t Hurley jump on such a lucrative deal? Hurley had a number of reasons for ultimately declining the position: Hurley’s loyalty to his players, his family, and his passion for college basketball. And there’s that third consecutive title-chasing UConn. It apparently wasn’t the $1.9M buyout he would have owed Uconn to leave.

When Hurley discusses basketball, he is unabashedly competitive. He believes sports are a “zero-sum game,” in which one team wins and the other loses. The winner has at least a temporary sense of relief. The loser has to bear the crushing weight of disappointment. This mentality informs Hurley’s intense coaching style. He’s always searching for an advantage, whether that’s wading through tough officiating or driving his players harder than they believe they can endure. He will do what it takes to win.

Much of that drive, Hurley says, comes from his family. He was raised in a basketball household. His father, Bob Hurley, was a legendary coach, and that lineage is something Dan takes incredibly seriously. He’s not simply coaching for UConn to succeed; he’s coaching to uphold the family legacy. That kind of pressure? It can break or make a coach — and Hurley appears intent on the latter.

Dan Hurley’s three-peat, his take

Now, Hurley has one goal for the future: a third consecutive NCAA title. It’s a respected thing to achieve, and few teams have pulled it off. John Wooden had his heyday with this at UCLA in the 60s and 70s. But Hurley has made it clear that failing to win means a failed season for UConn. “Once you’ve done it, anytime that you don’t do it, you know, deep inside you’re not going to look at those years the same way. There’s going to be a feeling of failure that comes with that,” Hurley said. Much is at stake, but Hurley is all in.

Yet Hurley, despite all of the pressure, is undeterred. He still believes. “There’s a path to it,” he reiterated. The season has been anything but smooth. But Hurley believes if UConn can click, it’ll be in the mix for that third title.

Even after bitter defeats this season, Hurley did receive some advice from Geno Auriemma, UConn’s women’s coach: Don’t get wrapped up in the end result. “If the only outcome that makes you a successful coach or a successful season is whether you hang up the national championship banner, then you should get out immediately,” Auriemma said. Hurley appreciated the advice. But he acknowledged that his focus, like Auriemma’s, remains on winning another title.

As the season progresses, there’s no doubt that Hurley has the commitment and will to fight for his team. The path to a third straight title will be challenging, but Hurley is not shying away. He’s prepared to grind, to tackle the obstacles and do whatever it takes to make history.