UConn Coach Dan Hurley Reflects on Last Season’s Struggles
UConn men’s basketball coach Dan Hurley revealed in an upcoming book that he was deeply affected by the challenges of last season, to the point where he considered stepping down. This insight comes from his book “Never Stop: Life, Leadership, and What It Means to Do Great,” set to be released later this month.
In the book, which includes a contribution from Ian O’Connor of Athletic, Hurley candidly wrote, “I thought about leaving” and even entertained the idea of taking a year off. Following a disappointing loss in the second round to Florida, he described feeling “fully cooked,” indicating just how worn out he really was.
Hurley expressed his disbelief at his state of mind during this tough period: “It was just burning. I didn’t even know how I was standing.” He described spending time in his office feeling lost, often scrolling through harsh critiques of the season on social media. The weight of not having built a solid roster and feeling as if he hadn’t been a strong leader weighed heavily on him. He questioned decisions—like whether they could have secured a better seed in the tournament to avoid facing a number one team in the second round.
At 52, he admitted he was “unhealthy” and really needed to take a step back. It had been a few days since he thought about basketball, yet he lamented how coaching in today’s era, particularly with the transfer portal, made that reflection tough to maintain.
He mentioned not being sure about returning for the 2025-26 season, highlighting his uncertainty during that tumultuous phase. Even though Hurley successfully led UConn to consecutive titles in 2023 and 2024, last season was a struggle, wrapping up with a record of 24-11.
The season indeed had many ups and downs for the Huskies. Hurley, caught in the emotional whirlwind, made some pointed comments about officials while walking down the tunnel to the locker room after their loss. This emotional turbulence prompted a reflection that even lingered on his mind as he contemplated the future.
Ultimately, Hurley conveyed some regret about how things played out. However, he is set to return to coaching the Huskies this season, ready to re-enter the high-stakes arena of college basketball.
