Sports: Dan Hurley introduced as UConn’s new men’s basketball coach
Storrs — Reminders of UConn rich men's basketball history hung on the walls all around Dan Hurley on Friday afternoon.
Four national championship banners were located to his right, and large pictures of NBA lottery picks filled the wall behind him during his introduction as the program's new basketball coach inside the Werth Family UConn Basketball Champions Center.
Hall of Famer Jim Calhoun, Hurley's role model who built the Huskies into a national power before the program's recent downturn, attended the press conference.
UConn president Susan Herbst mentioned repeat visits to the White House, an honor bestowed upon both the men's and women's basketball teams a combined 15 times.
Hurley was certainly not in Rhode Island, where he spent the last six seasons elevating the program, anymore.
The scene made quite an impression on Hurley and his family — wife Andrea, sons Danny and Andrew, and his parents, Bob Hurley Sr. and Chris, who all sat in the front row.
Wow," Hurley said. "Wow, wow, wow. I knew it was going to be big today. Wow . ... It's an opportunity of a lifetime for me. It's humbling to
lead this storied program."
Hurley, 45, is now officially a member of the UConn basketball family. As a former player (Seton Hall) and assistant coach (Rutgers) in the Big East, the New Jersey native has always had great respect for the program.
"I understand the standards at UConn basketball," Hurley said. "I understand what that means, those banners to the right, the players on the walls around us. I know the history here. I'm excited to get back to building this into the championship program that everyone deserves here in this building. It's a dream come true for me to be here. This was the place that I always hoped that I'd get a chance to coach."
It also was a perfect scenario for UConn, which landed one of the country's top young coaches and signed him to a six-year deal that pays $2.75 million in its first year and can reach a total over the length of the deal of at least $18.75 million.
Athletic director David Benedict was impressed what Hurley did with limited resources at Rhode Island. The Rams qualified for two straight NCAA tournaments and won the program's first Atlantic-10 Conference regular season title this season.
"I really do think this is a job that he idolized and he dreamed about being in this position today," Benedict said. "It's nice that we were in a situation and at a time where it worked out for both of us."
Hurley did a thorough job during the interview process, asking about the NCAA investigation of the program, and came away feeling comfortable with the information that he received.
An emotional, passionate and demanding coach, Hurley had flashbacks of his basketball life on Friday, thinking about how far he's come from being a high school coach.
"Nine years ago, I was driving an 18-seat mini-bus through Newark, New Jersey, to high school games," he said. "All I think about today is how grateful I am to be in this place."
"I think about just the places that I've been that haven't had anywhere near these types of advantages — the resources, the facilities, the tradition, the history. I've never had a job that has had all this . ... To go from being a high school coach, what you have to do — washing practice uniforms, finding a bus, buffets that you can budget your little bit of money. It was pretty mind-blowing when I walked in here."
The UConn job comes with its share of challenges.
The Huskies are coming off two straight losing seasons for the first time in 30 years. Their fan base has eroded and yearns for the days of the old Big East while their team toils in the American Athletic Conference.
Hurley met with the team on Friday, laying out his approach and philosophy. He vowed to build a championship culture, with the goal of being the hardest-working, hardest-playing team in the country.
"I tried to philosophically explain to the group, who I am, my background and how this program is going to operate," Hurley said. "I think it will really hit home for them when we get on the court for that first individual workout.
"My first individual workout makes quite an impression. And you'll find out how bad you really want to be great in that first 40 minutes. What I said to them, 'I would love for all you guys to be back. I feel like we can have a much better year than we had last year if you guys fully commit to the way I run my program.' ... It's going to be an adjustment for them, because we get after it like very few programs get after it."
Junior Jalen Adams spoke to some Rhode Island players about Hurley. The Huskies are still getting used to life without Kevin Ollie, who was fired on March 10. The players attended Friday's press conference.
"I'm definitely excited to see where things go," said Adams, who didn't commit to returning next season but doesn't plan on transferring. "I'm happy that he is coming in. I know a lot of guys at URI and all of those guys rave about him and talk about how he's a great guy and a great coach and he pushes you to the limits.
"I think that will be great for me personally and even better for our whole team."
Hurley is still figuring out his staff, although former UConn assistant Tom Moore, who spent this season with Hurley at URI, is expected to be an assistant. Moore was in attendance on Friday.
"I think he'll be just terrific," Moore said of Hurley. "I think the fans of this state will embrace him to no end."
Hurley understands and welcomes the pressure that comes with coaching at UConn.
Pressure is something that Hurley has dealt with his entire life, growing up in one of the most famous basketball families around. He embraces the lofty expectations set by the administration, including Herbst.
"That's why I came here," Hurley said. "In the end, that's why this was my dream to coach at UConn. I wanted to get to a place where the expectations are just not to make the NCAA tournament and maybe win a game and feel great about that. That's certainly a great accomplishment.
"But I love being in an environment where there's high expectations. I grew up in a family where we've had the highest expectations in basketball since we were little kids playing this game. We've lived our lives in a fish bowl. So we wear pressure and expectations like clothes, man. It's easy."