Dan Hurley, the mercurial University of Connecticut (UConn) men’s basketball coach, is fresh off winning the NCAA Championship on Monday night and he put on quite the show, demonstrating his pure lunacy throughout the contest.
Late in the second half of the National Championship against the Purdue Boilermakers, Hurley cost his team a turnover after shoving his own player while the game was actively going on.
dan hurley causes a huskies’ turnover pic.twitter.com/IcOKwlvebY
— ◇ (@d9Hoops) April 9, 2024
Hurley gave UConn guard Cam Spencer a solid shove while he was dribbling the ball. A referee had to grab him and pull him back to stop him from further disrupting the game.
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – APRIL 08: Head coach Dan Hurley of the Connecticut Huskies argues with officials in the first half against the Purdue Boilermakers during the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament National Championship game at State Farm Stadium on April 08, 2024 in Glendale, Arizona. Jamie Squire/Getty Images
Hurley was very angry that officials assessed his team a turnover, appearing to mouth “what the f**k are you doing?” But frankly, considering he had to be held back by the referees, he’s lucky he didn’t get tossed from the game.
Hurley also appeared to briefly beef with Purdue’s star center Zach Edey. Hurley first took exception to what he thought was an offensive foul by Edey, screaming in irate fashion on the sidelines at the no-call. Then, during a timeout, Hurley walked on to the court to apparently let Edey know he thought it was a foul.
— wow that was crazy (@CowardlyDoggo) April 9, 2024
Hurley was animated and hysterical for most of the game, a stark comparison to his opponent for the night in Purdue head coach Matt Painter.
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – APRIL 08: Head coach Dan Hurley of the Connecticut Huskies calls out instructions in the first half against the Purdue Boilermakers during the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament National Championship game at State Farm Stadium on April 08, 2024 in Glendale, Arizona. Christian Petersen/Getty Images
Dan Hurley isn’t the only nutjob in his family either. His brother Bobby, head coach of the Arizona State Sun Devils, told the TNT broadcast crew about his psychotic gameday ritual prior to tip-off Monday night.
“I don’t eat on gameday,” Bobby Hurley told Charles Barkley. “That’s mine. I want to make myself suffer and sacrifice before I have to go out and perform.” (RELATED: UConn Head Coach Dan Hurley Has Some Absolutely Bizarre Superstitions)
“We (Hurley family) all have routines… I don’t eat on gameday. That’s mine. I want to make myself suffer and sacrifice before I have to go out and perform… I fast.” – Bobby Hurley
“I eat fast.” – Charles Barkley pic.twitter.com/OgGGaG6UM7
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 9, 2024
So, yeah; a whole bunch of lunatics.
Still, you can’t argue with results. The family’s patriarch, Bob, is a legend in his own right. The Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer won 26 state championships in his 39 years coaching at St Anthony’s High School in New Jersey. He was only the third high school coach elected to the prestigious hall in 2010.
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – APRIL 08: Head coach Dan Hurley of the Connecticut Huskies celebrates after beating the Purdue Boilermakers 75-60 to win the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament National Championship game at State Farm Stadium on April 08, 2024 in Glendale, Arizona. Christian Petersen/Getty Images
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – APRIL 08: Head coach Dan Hurley of the Connecticut Huskies cuts down the net after beating the Purdue Boilermakers 75-60 to win the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament National Championship game at State Farm Stadium on April 08, 2024 in Glendale, Arizona. Chris Coduto/Getty Images
Now Dan is building up a Hall-of-Fame resume in his own right. Monday night’s championship gave him his second ring in a row and he assured reporters after the game he’ll be back for more.
Crazy or not, the sky’s the limit for Dan Hurley.