Jersey Native Dan Hurley Leads UConn to Final Four

Dan Hurley is no stranger to basketball, and certainly no stranger to success in basketball either.

Dan and his brother Bobby ate, drank and slept basketball from a tender age thanks to the patriarch of the Hurley family, Bob Hurley Sr., who built a career as one of the most revered coaches in the Garden State and the nation.

Bob Hurley Sr. made St. Anthony into a New Jersey and national power, winning four national titles and 26 state titles in high school basketball during his tenure from 1972 until the Jersey City institution folded due to financial issues in 2017.

Ask anyone around the game, whether it be the Hurley boys, or even legendary Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski, Bob Hurley impact is widely felt.

That tradition continues. Not only did Bobby Jr. lead Arizona State to the NCAA Tournament, but Dan has taken the University of Connecticut Huskies back to the Final Four for the first time in nine years with a resounding 82-54 win over Gonzaga.

The last time UCONN got this far it won its second of two national titles under Kevin Ollie in 2013-14.

For a program that was built off the back of a legend in Jim Calhoun, Hurley has brought that Jersey flavor to Stores. Like his father, he’s animated on the sideline and is into every waking moment of the game.

UConn never trailed against Gonzaga. The Huskies jumped out to a 4-0 lead and never looked back, building their lead up to 15 points some three minutes into the second half. The 82-54 final was the largest loss in Gonzaga program history.

The win for the Huskies continues a pattern of dominant efforts. They beat Iona by 14 in the opening round; took care of St. Mary’s by 15 in the Round of 32; blew away Arkansas by 23, and now topped Gonzaga by 28 points.

Three Huskies scored double-digits led by Jordan Hawkins with 20 points. Alex Karaban had 12 points, and Adama Sanogo had 10.