Rhode Island’s Hurley hired as UConn coach
STORRS, Conn. — 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 straight trip to the tournament for the Rams, who won their first regular-season Atlantic-10 championship.
“No other way to put it: Dan Hurley is on fire — the perfect coach for a storied program like UConn’s,” university President Susan Herbst told The Associated Press. “At a top public university, with four men’s NCAA championships and eleven women’s championships, we can get the best and we expect greatness.”
The school said Hurley has agreed to a six-year deal and will receive a package worth $2.75 million in the first season.
Purdue coach Matt Painter has all but ruled out Isaac Haas for the Sweet 16 after the star center fractured his right elbow in a first-round NCAA Tournament win.
But the 7-foot-2 senior is holding out hope that a new protective brace will give him a chance to play — even if just a few minutes — in second-seeded Purdue’s East Region matchup with third-seeded Texas Tech on Friday night.
Haas was fitted with a bulky brace the day after he was hurt. But the NCAA didn’t allow it, citing safety concerns for other players.
Graduate students from Purdue’s engineering department worked all night Monday to construct a suitable replacement.
Haas received it Tuesday and said he’s “95 percent sure” the NCAA will approve this version because it doesn’t have the rigid metal components in the banned brace. The NCAA will decide on Friday.
“I know the brace should be cleared, but it really just depends on Coach Painter,” Haas said.
Xavier coach Chris Mack will meet with Louisville athletics officials this weekend to discuss the school’s vacant coaching position.
Mack confirmed the meeting to The Cincinnati Enquirer on Thursday.
The position became vacant Wednesday after Louisville officials announced interim coach David Padgett wouldn’t be retained.