Dan Hurley has always been a college basketball coach who leads with tough love. He brings something of an old-school approach to the modern game by working his guys hard and refusing to coddle.
And NIL has only made him coach even harder.
Hurley was hired by UConn in 2018. Name, Image and Likeness was signed into law by the NCAA in July of 2021. The Huskies won 23 games during its first year in existence, won a national title in year two, and reached the Final Four in year three.
According to their head coach, the rise in success stems directly from NIL. Rather, in how Hurley approaches the game during the NIL era and how he works with his players. He wants them to play up to the standard of the opportunities that are presented to them.
They have access to more so Hurley expects more.
I coach these guys – the last two years since NIL started, I’ve coached my teams harder than I’ve coached any teams just because of everything that these guys now have at their disposal. The resources that the University of Connecticut and programs now invest in these players is not for their attendance. It’s not just to be on campus. It’s to produce and to produce winning. The way we travel, you know, the residence, the full-service dining we have in our $40 million+ practice facility, the NIL opportunities.
— Dan Hurley
UConn’s roster is loaded with NBA talent and they are treated extremely well. Not only do they have access to some of the nicest facilities in college basketball, they are well compensated through NIL.
Outside of the academic element, it is a professional lifestyle. That was not always the case.
As a result, Dan Hurley pushes his team even harder. Not only because he wants them to be the best that they can be. He expects that they will play up to the standard that is asked of them by the people who are paying for their luxuries.
Hurley wants his team to represent the donors and the supporters and everybody who has ever given time, money or energy to Huskies basketball. It is expected.
I coach the hell out of these guys because of everything that they get. And they have a responsibility to work harder and to represent UConn and to fight their absolute ass off to win games for our donors, our fans, the university because of everything they get that past players didn’t get.
— Dan Hurley
The logic attached to Hurley’s philosophy is sound. And if the last two seasons are any indication, it’s working.
Who would have thought that coaching a team hard while providing them with everything they need to be successful would lead to success? Other schools can only try to emulate UConn’s approach!