Sports: UConn Hurley and players will take action to fight racial inequality
Has spoken with his team about making a difference in fight for racial equality
Dan Hurley can hear the pain and anger in his players' voices during serious discussions about what's transpired in recent days.
He's heard personal stories from them about living in fear.
"There's guys right now, they're hurt," Hurley said. "They're angry. They're sad. They're frustrated. There's a lot of emotions."
Hurley believes it's his responsibility as a leader to use his platform to create change, so the UConn men's basketball coach is taking action.
He recently posted to social media his reaction to what he described as the inhumane murder of George Floyd, adding because he's a white man he feels "ashamed of the treatment of Black Americans in our country." He brought up the need to change the culture of social injustice and racial inequality.
He's talked with his players about steps they can take as a team moving forward.
"I got into coaching because there's no feeling in the world better than impacting the life of someone else, being of great service and changing someone's life ... there's nothing better," Hurley said during a conference call on Wednesday. "If anything has been an eye opener or an awakening, it's serving — for someone like me in the position that I'm in, as a white man — 13 or 15 players on our roster."
"Great is not enough anymore. There's much more required of me in the position that I have. It's my responsibility to lead the UConn men's basketball program and bring about real change and action. When the social media ends and the protest ends, it's going to be about action."
"I understand my responsibility in that and in our communities."
What form the action Hurley takes is yet to be determined.
While coaching at Rhode Island, his team made a statement by lining up and locking arms during the national anthem.
A wide range of options are on the table, including reaching out to community leaders and police officials. There's a new focus and new understanding of what their responsibilities are going to be, according to Hurley.
"We've had several conversations as a team, staff, about obviously speaking out about these things," Hurley said.
"But, also, too, let's start organizing and planning. Community impact, community relations, serving the people that need our help is going to be a very important component of how our program functions.
"We have recruiting meetings, we have practice meetings and academic support updates. What I'm doing, what we're doing in the communities that need us in Connecticut to make change and to help change occur now has to be a part of our daily practice.
"... We're trying to learn and we're trying to listen and we're trying to figure out where we can help. You're talking about very complex systems that have been in place for an incredibly long time, so it's not an easy solution."
Growing up in Jersey City, N.J., Hurley lived in an area with a diverse population. His father, Bob Sr., was a respected high school basketball coach and a probation officer.
People of color, Hurley said, were his baby-sitters, high school and college teammates, best friends and heroes.
"It's easy for me and (my brother) Bob," Hurley said. "We were insulated because of the way we grew up. It doesn't help us. We can't relate to the life experience of a black man. We were insulated to it because the majority of our life people of color have been our best friends and people that are closest to us."
Hurley and his basketball team are committed to being part of the solution. They'll continue to have discussions about actions that they can take.
When the Huskies will be all together again on campus is difficult to say. There's ongoing discussions with university, medical staff and state officials about steps needed to potentially return this summer while safely dealing with the coronavirus crisis.
They're closely watching what the NBA and other professional sports leagues are doing and speaking with other college basketball staffs.
"The fact that we're talking about it is encouraging for me," Hurley said. "We're sharing ideas and talking about different options . ... There's a lot that goes into it. There's just so much planning. Just every conversation that we're having, hopefully we're getting closer. There's just so much unknown what's going to happen next."
“We’ve had several conversations as a team, staff, about obviously speaking out about these things. But, also, too, let’s start organizing and planning. Community impact, community relations, serving the people that need our help is going to be a very important component of how our program functions. DAN HURLEY
News and notes
James Bouknight, Josh Carlton and Akok Akok, who's recovering from surgery to repair a torn Achilles tendon, are the only three players on campus . ... Tyler Polley is on schedule to be ready for the season opener. He's home in Florida working his way back from knee surgery. He has access to a pool and gym. "He's able to do more things right now in Florida away from us than he would be able to do on campus," Hurley said . ... Uniform numbers for the new Huskies: R.J. Cole (1), Tyrese Martin (4), Adama Sanogo (21), Javonte Brown-Ferguson (31), Richie Springs (13) and Andre Jackson (44). Akok is switching to 11. g.keefe@theday.com