Last season, the UConn Huskies were chasing their third consecutive national championship. But at times, the team struggled significantly. Head coach Dan Hurley remained vocal throughout the season — whether criticizing the media, the referees, or simply expressing his frustration. According to Hurley, his squad lost its confidence early on.
“I can’t coach this team as hard as I’ve coached other teams. Cam Spencer, Andre Jackson, Donovan Clingan... they could take hard coaching. This year, our confidence got rattled in Maui, and I’ve had to build this team up,” Hurley said on the radio.
Hurley also faced criticism for his sideline behavior, going viral multiple times for his outbursts — moments that reflected poorly on his leadership, despite the team’s success. To his credit, he took full responsibility.
“If it wasn't for all of my antics and viral moments, obviously there'd be more focus on just what we've accomplished as a program the last three years. It's been an amazing run, one of the best runs anyone's had," Hurley said.
On Wednesday, it was revealed that last season was Hurley’s most difficult yet — so challenging, in fact, that he nearly stepped away from coaching altogether. While UConn is in the middle of a historic run, the pressure nearly ended it.
“UConn head coach Dan Hurley considered stepping down after last season due to the emotional drain of trying to win three straight national championships, according to a new book co-authored by Hurley. Hurley had preliminary talks with Fox Sports about becoming a television analyst, per The Athletic,” Yahoo Sports posted.
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Although Hurley has had emotional moments in previous seasons, his behavior last year seemed more intense — likely driven by a “championship or bust” mindset. After reflecting on the year, Hurley ultimately chose to stay — the right decision for both himself and the program.
Hurley is one of the top coaches in college basketball, and walking away from the UConn dynasty would have been a seismic and controversial move. Thankfully, he opted to continue leading one of the most dominant programs in the sport.