Hurley moves from Rhode Island to UConn
Dan Hurley became a hot commodity after coaching Rhode Island to two straight NCAA tournaments. On Thursday, he left for a bigger name in New England basketball.
Hurley jumped across state lines to join a Connecticut team that has won four NCAA titles in 20 years but is under NCAA investigation and just finished a second straight losing season. The Huskies fired coach Kevin Ollie this month.
“This 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,” Hurley said in a statement. “I look forward to continuing this proud tradition.”
Hurley was 113-82 in six seasons with the Rams, who went 26-8 this year before losing in the second round of the NCAA tournament to Duke. It was the second consecutive trip to the tournament for the Rams, who won their first regular-season Atlantic 10 championship.
The school said Hurley has agreed to a six-year deal and will receive a package worth $2.75 million in the first season.
Other hires
Former Colorado State assistant coach Niko Medved is returning to Fort Collins to lead the Rams men’s basketball program after spending a year as Drake’s head coach. Medved replaces Larry Eustachy, who stepped down last month, ending a “climate assessment” of the program led by athletic director Joe Parker. Eustachy, who was 122-79 in five-plus seasons at Colorado State, is on paid leave until June 30, at which time he’ll formally resign.
Florida Atlantic has hired Dusty May as its new basketball coach, signing him to a five-year contract. May has spent the last three years as an assistant at Florida under coach Mike White — the brother of new FAU athletic director Brian White. May, a former video assistant, replaces former NBA player Michael Curry, who was fired after going 3984 in four seasons.
Hot bobblehead
Loyola Chicago merchandise has been selling briskly on some websites, but there’s one collectible that’s the Holy Grail: the Sister Jean bobblehead.
If you didn’t get one at team chaplain Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt’s bobblehead night in February 2011, and 2015, you were probably out of luck.
“We’re looking at doing another run very soon,” Tom Sorboro, senior associate athletic director for external operations, said via email from Atlanta, where the Ramblers defeated Nevada on Thursday night to reach the South Regional final.
“At this point, everything Sister Jean-related is of tremendous interest. She essentially has become her own brand.
“When people hear about the bobbleheads the first question they ask is, ‘Where can I buy one?’ We’re hoping to be able to answer that question with something other than, ‘Nowhere, right now,’ very soon.”
Auriemma unhappy
UConnecticut coach Geno Auriemma went to social media to defend one of his former star players and assistant coaches fired by Cincinnati.
The Bearcats fired Jamelle Elliott on Wednesday after her nine seasons working to revive their women’s program. The Bearcats went 19-13 last season — their best record in 15 years — and are coming off their first back-to-back winning seasons since 2005-07.
Elliott and Auriemma remain close friends.
Auriemma tweeted on a personal account Thursday: “Positively disgraceful that Jamelle Elliott was let go at Cincinnati. Anyone interested in that job would be well advised to do their homework.”