NCAA Championship is a dream that players, coaches, and colleges sweat for, so for Dan Hurley to say “I don’t know if I’ll ever love a team more,” in a cracking voice after the loss to Florida, is beyond words to describe. With this, the dream of a third consecutive national championship ended for UConn. Hurley, who wears his emotions on his sleeve, was exhausted. He spoke of the team’s honor, their heart, and Florida’s quality in the post-match. But his brief moment of pride was quickly washed over by critics who took issue with Hurley being so emotional throughout the game.
This isn’t the first time Hurley’s fiery demeanor has raised eyebrows. His emotional post-game rant about the officiating after the Florida loss was just the latest chapter in a long history of controversial moments. Hurley has had his share of fiery exchanges, like his infamous “best coach” comment to a referee during a game against Butler and the technical foul he received at the Maui Invitational. But with the recent loss, some are starting to ask: should Hurley change his ways?
Dan Wolken from USA Today thinks Hurley is at a turning point in his career. In his article, he pointed out how Hurley’s ego seemed to get in the way after the loss to Florida. “Sunday night when his ego couldn’t handle losing to a better team. His defense mechanism was to blame a questionable call here or there,” Wolken wrote. Hurley has built a reputation for being unafraid to speak his mind. But as he moves forward, Wolken wonders if it’s time for Hurley to take a step back and reflect. So, the question is, should he?
It didn’t stop here, though. Divided as it is expected. Dan Patrick from NBC Sports takes a different view. He doesn’t think Hurley needs to change. “Don’t think he can change. Why should he change? This is who he is. Um, but Dan Walcan says if Hurley can conquer all of that, he can find the right balance between being himself and steering clear of these unflattering moments that make him look like a maniac. Now that Yukon’s championship run is over, there’s never been a better time to start. I don’t think he can change, and this is who he is.” Patrick said.
While Wolken argues Hurley needs to adapt, Patrick believes the coach’s passion is what makes him successful. “Dan Hurley is not going away. You go away when you don’t win. He does have the formula.” he added, making a valid point: Hurley’s ability to win is what has allowed him to keep his fiery approach. For now, it seems, that’s not going to change.
As long as Hurley keeps winning, there isn’t much external pressure for him to adjust his coaching style. After all, success has a way of shielding coaches from heavy criticism. But Hurley himself has hinted that some changes might be coming.
Dan Hurley’s Plan to Reset and Refocus
After UConn’s loss to Florida, he admitted he was “f——- drained” and expressed a desire to reset. “There’s a lot of rewiring and things I’ve got to do in the offseason,” Hurley said. He also opened up about the challenges of the past couple of years, with the distractions of championships and off-court responsibilities. “It will be nice to get to a normal offseason… I’ll be able to just focus on the upcoming season and make better decisions with all aspects of coaching,” he shared. Giving up is never an option, coming back stronger, is Hurley’s plan.
NCAA, College League, USA Basketball: NCAA Tournament Second Round-Connecticut at Florida Mar 23, 2025 Raleigh, NC, USA Connecticut Huskies head coach Dan Hurley reacts after a play during the second half against the Florida Gators in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at Lenovo Center. Raleigh Lenovo Center NC USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xZacharyxTaftx 20250323_tdc_bx6_146
This could be the perfect opportunity for Hurley to go back to basics and focus on the elements that matter most. Hurley acknowledged that prolonged success had made it hard to maintain perspective. “You lose perspective. You struggle with the ego at times because you’ve been on this incredible run,” he confessed. It sounds like Hurley is planning a reset, one that could bring him back to the fundamentals that made him successful in the first place.
Despite the disappointing setback, Hurley took pride in his team’s effort as a whole. “There’s honor in the way we went out,” he said. Hurley is determined to get better, and it looks like UConn will surely make a strong effort to build an even better team going forward.
But will Hurley change? The answer remains to be seen, but the acknowledgment that there is room for reflection and growth is an action in itself. UConn’s future with Hurley at the helm is as interesting a storyline to follow as ever. Without question, Dan Hurley isn’t going anywhere, anytime soon.
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