HARTFORD, Conn. _ UConn landed Dan Hurley to be its new men's basketball coach, touching off celebrations throughout its vast fan base.
Hurley, who has coached Rhode Island into the NCAA Tournament the past two seasons, was at the top of athletic director David Benedict's wish list when he fired Kevin Ollie on March 10. Benedict got it done with an aggressive offer _ raising hopes that after two losing seasons UConn can regain its national relevance.
Hurley will be introduced at UConn's Werth Family Center on Friday at 1 p.m.
"I am honored and excited to become the head coach of the UConn men's basketball program," Hurley said, in a statement released by the school, "and I would like to thank President (Susan) Herbst and David Benedict for this tremendous opportunity. 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. I look forward to continuing this proud tradition."
Hurley late Wednesday agreed to a six-year contract worth roughly $3 million per year, triple his salary at Rhode Island, including $2.75 million in the first year. Further contract details were set to be released Friday. Hurley arrived at the Rhode Island campus to meet with his team early Thursday morning and give them the news as posts from UConn appeared shortly thereafter on social media.
"I think it's a great combination," said George Blaney, former UConn associate head coach, and Hurley's coach at Seton Hall, "a great deal for Connecticut and a great deal for Danny. It's an ideal time for him to take the job, and an ideal time for UConn to hire him."
Jim Calhoun, UConn's coach from 1986-2012, gave his stamp of approval, too.
Danny's a real good coach," Calhoun said, "with a chance to be a great coach. I'm not trying to put pressure on him, but he's got a lot of good components that could make him into a terrific, terrific coach.
"The single most important thing, the guy grew up playing against us, watching us, coaching against us, having us nearby. Danny knows us very, very well. ... He truly knows what UConn has been, and what he'd like it to be."
UConn must still resolve its issues with Ollie, who has more than $10 million remaining on his contract, and is contesting the school's decision to fire him "with just cause," citing an NCAA investigation. Michael Bailey, head of the UConn chapter of the American Association of University Professors, which is fighting on Ollie's behalf, beginning with a hearing with Benedict.
"The UConn administration hired Kevin Ollie as an assistant coach of men's basketball in July 2010," Bailey said, in a text message to The Courant. "With that hiring, Kevin became a member of the University of Connecticut-American Association of University Professors (UConn-AAUP). As a member of UConn-AAUP, Kevin is entitled to the negotiated rights and protections as any other member of that union, including due process protection in terminations for just cause. Kevin is working through that process at this time. The reported hiring of Dan Hurley does not impact Coach Ollie's rights as stated in the collective bargaining agreement."
Hurley will make $2.75 million in the first year, more later in the contract, which could make things easier for UConn if they do have to pay Ollie all, or some of the $10 million.
Although the coaching search seemed to take forever for anxious UConn fans, it was actually fairly simple and quick. UConn discussed other candidates, but was fixed on Hurley, and while Hurley had other options, including a more lucrative offer from Pittsburgh, it was clear UConn was the job he wanted, if the money was comparable.
"Coach Hurley is the absolute right fit for this University," Benedict said, in UConn's statement," its student-athletes, and UConn Nation. We were impressed with his turnarounds at Wagner and Rhode Island and his prior success at St. Benedict's. His proven track record of developing student-athletes and preparing them for productive lives both in and outside of basketball perfectly aligns with UConn's values."
Once Rhode Island (26-8) was eliminated by Duke in the NCAA Tournament last Saturday, negotiations began in earnest, Hurley meeting with Benedict and UConn officials on Monday, and then with Rhode Island officials on Tuesday. URI made offers to keep Hurley there, and he spent the day Wednesday mulling his choices.
By Wednesday night, his representatives, and UConn's lawyers, were hammering out details. The blog A Dime Back reported that donors had stepped up to fund a bigger UConn offer, approaching Pitt's $3.6 million annual salary offer.
Josh Newton, president and CEO of The UConn Foundation told The Courant, "We are not involved. There have been no donations made to support his hiring."
Landing Hurley will surely help UConn's program on several fronts after two consecutive losing seasons. With his reputation in the New York, New Jersey and New England areas, he has been an effective recruiter and evaluator of talent in those areas, always important as UConn's base. His hiring is also likely to prevent a wave of transfers from the Huskies' current roster, and perhaps prompt their best player, Jalen Adams, to return for his senior year.
And the hiring re-affirms UConn's prestige after the breakup of the old Big East Conference. Hurley turned down Rutgers, of the Big Ten in 2016, and now Pitt, of the ACC, to take over at UConn, which plays in the lesser-regarded American Athletic Conference. The school's history and tradition attracted Hurley, who played at Seton Hall and is an admirer of Calhoun, 75, who reached an agreement to stay on at UConn as he starts up the new Division III program at St. Joseph's in West Hartford, details of both roles to be worked out later.
Tom Moore, who was Calhoun's top assistant for a long time at UConn, is on Hurley's staff at URI and is expected to join him in Storrs.
"We are thrilled to name Dan Hurley as our next coach," Herbst said, in the school statement. "I never doubted for a moment that UConn would be able to attract a coach of Dan's talent. He understands UConn, student-athletes at this level, and college basketball in the Northeast. I know our entire community will be delighted to welcome Dan, Andrea and their family to UConn."
Blaney, who also grew up in Jersey City, has known Hurley family for more than 50 years and sees Hurley, who some have compared to a "young Jim Calhoun" as a perfect fit for UConn.
"I think he's got the passion and the fire like Jim had," Blaney said, from his home in Massachusetts, "and I think he's really, really bright like Jim is, so there are a lot of good comparisons. Danny Hurley made himself into a coach. I think he surprised a lot of people originally, but once you saw his passion and intelligence you see what a great coach he is. He built a program at St. Benedict's to rival any prep school in America, he built a great program at Wagner, he revitalized Rhode Island and hopefully he'll do the same thing at Connecticut."
