Latest news with #DanHurley
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dan Hurley Bluntly Reveals Why He Turned Down Knicks Coaching Job
Dan Hurley Bluntly Reveals Why He Turned Down Knicks Coaching Job originally appeared on Athlon Sports. As the New York Knicks persist in their search for a new head coach after firing Tom Thibodeau, the team appears no closer to finding the right candidate now than they were more than three weeks ago. Advertisement On Wednesday, UConn head coach Dan Hurley, who famously declined an opportunity to lead the Los Angeles Lakers last year, explained why the Knicks' gig wasn't right for him. "I'm a college coach," Hurley said. He added that the season was difficult for him and the entire program, from "the staff, the players, the fans, just everyone that supports us." After the national attention Hurley received when he was offered and declined the Lakers' job last year, he plainly said that the Knicks' job was "not even something I thought about (or) considered." UConn, under Hurley's tutelage, won back-to-back national championships in 2023 and 2024. After that second title, the Lakers came knocking to offer Hurley the position. Advertisement Last year, he explained to ESPN that it wasn't a "leverage play" to get more money out of UConn, but instead, he outlined what the school means to him and the connections that come with it. UConn Huskies head coach Dan Hurley. David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports "But to leave a place that you feel the way we do and the family connection with my wife, my sons, my mother-in-law, my father...I know how much it means to my dad to go to the Big East tournament and come to 10 UConn games a year at home, sitting courtside, when I'm coaching against Rick Pitino," Hurley said. In the most recent NCAA Tournament, the Huskies saw their season come to a premature end with a second-round loss to the Florida Gators. In seven seasons with the Huskies, Hurley has a 165-69 regular-season record, and UConn has made five straight NCAA Tournaments. Advertisement Related: Heartbroken Dan Hurley Struggles to Utter a Word About His Deceased Brother Related: Dan Hurley Sends Message on UConn's Three Newest Commits This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 26, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Hornets Take Liam McNeeley With 29th Pick in 2025 NBA Draft
Hornets Take Liam McNeeley With 29th Pick in 2025 NBA Draft originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Charlotte Hornets selected Liam McNeeley with the 29th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft on Wednesday night. Advertisement The 6-foot-7 wing spent a year at UConn with Dan Hurley, but made an impact as the Big East Newcomer of the Year. He was the last player in the green room on Wednesday night. "This is a dream come true regardless of the number where I was picked," McNeeley told ESPN. He's one of four players going in the first round from Florida's Montverde Academy, including Cooper Flagg, Derik Queen, and Asa Newell. This move to get McNeeley comes after the Hornets traded Mark Williams to the Suns for two first-round picks. The other is a top-five protected first-rounder in 2029. The trade isn't official until the league's first day of business on July 6. Williams averaged 15.2 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game last season. Advertisement The deal marks the second time the Hornets have tried to trade Williams. They thought they sent him to the Los Angeles Lakers before the trade deadline in exchange for a package that featured Dalton Knecht and a 2031 first-round pick. Related: Hornets Trade Mark Williams to Suns for Two First-Round Picks, per Report But the Lakers rejected the deal after they said that Williams failed a physical. He's headed to Phoenix who recently traded Kevin Durant. Related: Charlotte Hornets Select Kon Knueppel with No. 4 Pick in 2025 NBA Draft Charlotte picked Duke forward Kon Knueppel with the fourth overall pick. The 6-foot-5 sharpshooter known for his high basketball IQ. While some anticipated Charlotte might take a swing on the higher-upside Ace Bailey or consider trade-down options, the Hornets opted for stability and fit with Knueppel. Advertisement Related: Reactions Pouring in After Hornets Draft Kon Knueppel The duo of Knueppel and McNeeley coming to Charlotte signals a change with the Hornets draft strategy from flash to secure picks. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 26, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
UConn's Dan Hurley is Trending After Major Knicks Coaching News
UConn's Dan Hurley is Trending After Major Knicks Coaching News originally appeared on Athlon Sports. UConn men's basketball coach Dan Hurley, who has won two NCAA titles with the program, could have been hired by the Los Angeles Lakers in June 2024. In fact, the New Jersey native turned down their six-year, $70 million contract offer to remain with the Huskies, via ESPN. Advertisement The Lakers then hired 2006 No. 11 overall pick JJ Redick, who had never previously coached other than volunteering with his nine-year-old son's team at Brooklyn Basketball Academy. Los Angeles went 50-32 and earned the Western Conference's third seed under his leadership this season before getting bounced in the first round by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Meanwhile, Hurley took UConn to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, losing 77-75 to No. 1 Florida. Now, he's being mentioned by fans on social media as a worthy candidate for the New York Knicks after they fired Tom Thibodeau on Tuesday. Connecticut Huskies head coach Dan Hurley.© Michael Chow/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK Knicks Film School's DJ Zullo floated the idea that New York could have a better shot at landing Hurley than Los Angeles did in 2024. Advertisement "The same people that felt confident Hurley would turn down the Lakers do NOT share that same optimism should the Knicks come calling," he said. "If there was ever a time and a team for Dan Hurley to jump to the NBA…it's now. The Knicks are the one job he would covet," another person said. "They are a championship contender with great leaders and an All-NBA lead guard." "I absolutely hate this [Thibodeau's firing]. Awful. Terrible. But... I've said that if the Knicks make change there's only 1 name. Dan Hurley," another one said. "I think Dan Hurley to the Knicks is like a 35% possibility, but I think they will go another direction," another one said. "Just a hunch, but time moves quickly and he's not the flavor of the month anymore." Advertisement "The Knicks need Dan Hurley," another one said. "This guy is one of the best basketball coaches in the world at any level. He will take them to a level they won't even believe, like he did with UConn, and bring a championship back to NY for the first time in 52 years. It's an obvious move." Related: NBA Legend Dwight Howard Was in Tears After Major Personal News Related: Luka Doncic's Former Mavericks Teammate Posts Immediate Reaction to Cooper Flagg News This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dan Hurley makes Knicks stance clear as rumors swirl about UConn coach's interest
An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Tom Thibodeau, New York Knicks head coach, reacts during a game, Image 2 shows Connecticut Huskies head coach Dan Hurley arguing with a referee during a basketball game, Image 3 shows UConn head coach Dan Hurley at an NCAA basketball tournament Dan Hurley's future served as the talk of the college basketball world spanning the nearly 3,000 miles from Los Angeles to Storrs, Conn. around this time last year when the Lakers had an opening. The UConn men's basketball coach has no plans of a repeat saga now that the Knicks are searching for their head coach with Tom Thibodeau canned. Advertisement 'Not another summer of that,' Hurley said Tuesday night, per the Hartford Courant. While this is not a definitive 'no,' it's an indication that Hurley does not — at least to start — have a wandering eye toward Madison Square Garden and replacing Thibodeau. UConn sources are also not sweating the possibility of Hurley wanting to leave for Broadway, according to the New Haven Register. There have been rumors about the Knicks being a potential dream destination for the two-time championship coach who grew up in Jersey City and starred for Seton Hall, with that chatter only amplified after he turned down the Lakers' six-year, $70 million offer. Dan Hurley indicated he won't be deciding between the Knicks and UConn this summer. AP Hurley signed a six-year, $50 million contract extension with UConn last year that will take him through the 2029 season. Advertisement The 52-year-old focused on the Huskies' roster for the 2025-26 season rather than discuss whether he'd be a fit to lead several former Villanova stars now wearing orange and blue. Tom Thibodeau is out as Knicks coach. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post 'Two days into practice, not everyone is on campus, but we're thrilled with the way we've been able to put it together,' Hurley said Tuesday, per the Courant. One of the selling points for a college job compared to an NBA one is that Hurley is a made man in Connecticut, compared to the brutal pro ranks where coaches are hired to be fired. Follow The Post's coverage of the Knicks' stunning firing of head coach Tom Thibodeau Thibodeau led the Knicks to their first Eastern Conference finals trip in 25 years and turned the franchise from a laughing stock into a title contender, but not even that could save him. Advertisement Not every coach wants to inherit that type of pressure. Dan Hurley and his best friend, a referee. Bob Donnan-Imagn Images Hurley, on the other hand, is facing no heat after having a down season by his recent standards in which the Huskies bowed out in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in their quest for a three-peat. If Hurley is not a factor in the race, he could be the second two-time championship coach passing on the Knicks with former Villanova coach Jay Wright reportedly not un-retiring to coach the team. Arkansas coach and former Kentucky leader John Calipari is a possible option, per The Post's Stefan Bondy, due to his connections to Knicks president Leon Rose and front office executive William Wesley.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
UConn Makes Personal Announcement About Dan Hurley on Thursday
UConn Makes Personal Announcement About Dan Hurley on Thursday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. UConn wrapped up the 2024-25 season with a 24-11 overall mark and a 14-6 Big East record, placing third in conference play. Advertisement The Huskies, under seventh-year head coach Dan Hurley, entered the NCAA Tournament as the No. 8 seed and narrowly fell to Florida, the eventual national champion, by a 77-75 margin in the second round. Despite not defending their national title, UConn remains at the peak of college basketball, on and off the court. On Thursday, UConn Men's Basketball took to X to celebrate that "Andrea Hurley was honored earlier this week with the Saint Clare Award at the Franciscan Life Center Sports Banquet. A tremendous honor for the First Lady of UConn Basketball!' This post, while brief, highlighted a personal milestone for Coach Hurley's wife, Andrea Hurley. The Saint Clare Award, presented at the 39th Annual Franciscan Sports Banquet and Silent Auction on June 3, recognizes women who embody Christian values through athletic involvement and community service. Advertisement Hurley has been lauded for weekly visits to Hartford Children's Hospital, her work with Make-A-Wish Foundation and her support of the Husky Ticket Project, which provides tickets to underserved youth. UConn Huskies head coach Dan Hurley and Jayden Ross (23).© David Butler II-Imagn Images Hurley has long been a fixture behind the scenes of the Huskies' program. A graduate of Seton Hall, she met Dan (Hurley) while both were students, marrying him in 1997 and raising two sons: Danny and Andrew, the latter of whom was on UConn's 2023 and 2024 championship teams. Following the 2024 title, Dan opted to sign a six-year, $50 million extension with UConn that runs through 2029. Related: Duke Announces Exciting News on Cameron Boozer's Dad Related: 6-foot-11 College Basketball Recruit Makes Final Decision This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
