Rhode Island’s Dan Hurley Hired As UConn Basketball Head Coach On Six-Year Deal

by Pablo MenaMarch 22, 2018, 3:13 pmDaily Digest, News, Z-Home Slider >

Dan Hurley has agreed to become UConn’s new men’s basketball head coach, the school announced Thursday.

UConn hires Dan Hurley News

The 45-year-old spent the past six seasons with Rhode Island — where he led the Rams to each of the past two NCAA Tournaments. Hurley now joins the Huskies on a six-year deal.

It’s official! Dan Hurley named Head Coach of @UConnMBB. pic.twitter.com/G5ppW9fneO

— UConn Huskies (@UConnHuskies) March 22, 2018

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Hurley will replace Kevin Ollie, who was fired from UConn earlier this month after a fourth weak season. Hurley reportedly weighed a higher-paying offer from Pittsburgh before taking the job in Connecticut, as well as a long-term offer from Rhode Island.

Hurley will bring assistant Tom Moore — who worked under Jim Calhoun at UConn — with him, per sources. However, the rest of the Huskies’s staff will depend on whether his top assistant, David Cox, is elevated at URI.

UConn’s men’s basketball squad has long been one of the best in the nation. They are the only program in the country to have won four national championships in the past 20 years.

The Huskies last won the national title in 2014, Ollie’s second season in charge. However, UConn has reached the NCAA Tournament just once since then: in 2016, when their season was saved by a 70-foot shot from Jalen Adams in the American Athletic Conference tourney. UConn finished 14-18 this past season.

Hurley will take on a squad that has become depleted in the wake of defections in poor recruiting. Adams — the team’s top player — has been non-committal about whether he will return, and junior guard Terry Larrier has announced he will leave to turn pro.

Nevertheless, Hurley — son of legendary high school coach Bob Hurley Sr. and the brother of current Arizona State coach Bobby Hurley — is accustomed to rebuilding.

It also appears Hurley made a sound choice in joining UConn over Pittsburgh, as the Panthers were winless in the ACC this past season. Nine Pittsburgh players have reportedly requested their releases and will consider transferring.