STORRS, Conn. – UConn men’s basketball coach Dan Hurley considered leaving his post following the Huskies’ national championship victory in April, revealing in his upcoming book that fatigue, the pressures of modern college basketball, and being a “bad loser” led him to contemplate stepping down. A conversation with UConn women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma ultimately refocused him and solidified his decision to remain with the program.
Hurley details the emotional toll of navigating the rapidly changing landscape of college athletics – including Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) and the transfer portal – in “Never Stop: Life, Leadership, and What It Takes To Be Grate,” co-written with ian O’Connor and set for release on September 30. He described feeling disconnected from his players amidst the constant negotiation and potential for movement,stating,”You don’t feel like pretty much anybody is on your team. Even if they’re not in the portal, every kid has an agent, and that agent is shopping you around.”
According to excerpts shared with ESPN, Hurley admitted to being “a bad loser” after the championship game and feeling overwhelmed by the demands of sustaining UConn’s success. ”We were playing the longest possible seasons, having extremely busy offseasons…All those things, the offseasons that were short and packed and the long seasons and amazing dominant success in that tournament, being fatigued, being a sore loser, those things for a couple days put me in that spot.”
The turning point, Hurley explained, came when players Jaylin Stewart and Solo Ball quickly reaffirmed their commitment to the program without seeking further compensation or negotiation. “Within a day or two, those guys coming in and saying, ‘We’re staying, we’re not even trying to negotiate, whatever you want to give me, I’m here.’ That’s what kind of snapped me out of it,” Hurley wrote. He also reflected on the profound impact the UConn position had on his life, stating, “I’m never going to be the coach at UConn again and being the coach at UConn changed my life.”
Auriemma’s influence is highlighted in the book as crucial to Hurley’s renewed perspective. While specific details of their conversation haven’t been released, the exchange clearly helped Hurley overcome his doubts and recommit to the Huskies. Hurley led UConn to a 37-3 record and the program’s fifth national championship in April, defeating Purdue 76-59 in the title game.
