Why Dan Hurley Stayed at UConn…
One year on, JJ Redick has turned out to be as effective as a Swiss army knife, and the Los Angeles Lakers are pretty pleased with themselves for hiring him, even if some might argue that Hurley could have taught Michael Jordan a thing or two. Dan Hurley had just wrapped up two consecutive national titles with the UConn Huskies, when the Lakers came knocking louder than a drum solo. Hurley, his dad Bob Hurley Sr., and his brother Bobby – long-time coaching legends themselves – gathered for a family huddle, only to have Hurley decide to keep cutting his teeth on college turf. According to Hurley’s book and interview with Jon Rothstein, Bob Sr. urged him to go for the Lakers gig, noting he never made the jump himself, staying at St. Anthony for over three decades like a boombox stuck on repeat.
Bob Hurley Sr. spent a whopping 39 years at St. Anthony High School, racking up championships like a magician pulling rabbit after rabbit from a hat. While others saw escalators, Hurley Sr. was perfectly content on the high school stairs. Meanwhile, UConn’s season struggled, ending third in the Big East conference and getting booted out of the NCAA Tournament earlier than desired, whereas Redick has been dining out on wins, getting a chance to coach Luka Doncic going forward. Marcus Smart waxed lyrical about Redick’s unsung brilliance, claiming Redick’s IQ is sharper than a buzzsaw. While Hurley’s choice might be questioned, one thing’s for sure: JJ Redick and the Lakers are basking in the Californian sun with promising prospects.
