Irish American leads UConn to NCAA Championship title

Irish American Dan Hurley leads UConn to back-to-back NCAA Men's Basketball titles. Historic win traces roots back to Co Cork.

Dan Hurley, an Irish American with roots tracing back to Co Cork in the 19th century, led the University of Connecticut Huskies to their second consecutive NCAA Men's Basketball Championship title on April 9. This victory marked UConn's sixth NCAA Men's Basketball title and the first time a team has achieved back-to-back championships since 2006 and 2007.

Hurley's father, Bob Hurley Sr, shared that both sides of their family - the O'Briens and the Hurleys - immigrated to the US from Co Cork in the 1890s, settling in St. Patrick's Parish in Jersey City, New Jersey. Bob Sr, a successful basketball coach himself, instilled a love for the game in his sons Dan and Bobby, who both excelled in basketball at St. Anthony's High School.

Dan Hurley's coaching career began in 1996 as an assistant at St. Anthony's, leading him to college-level coaching positions at Rutgers, St. Benedict's Prep, Wagner, and the University of Rhode Island before arriving at UConn in 2018. His coaching prowess was recognized when he was named the Werner Ladder Naismith College Coach of the Year.

Hurley's coaching style and dedication to the game were evident as he led UConn to victory over Perdue in the championship game, with his son Andrew, a senior at UConn, joining him on the court. Reflecting on his team's success, Hurley expressed pride in their accomplishments, stating that it was one of the greatest two-year runs a program has ever had, solidifying their place in basketball history.

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