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Another one of these articles. Louisville and UConn get the only 2 "Slam Dunks".
College basketball coaching moves 2018: Ranking the top new hires of the offseason and last season
UConn: Dan Hurley
Previously: Head coach at Rhode Island
Career record: 151-105
NCAA Tournament record: 2-2
Regular-season conference championships: 1
Evaluation: UConn is similar to Louisville in that it reeled in its top target -- a high-profile target at that -- so it easily lands in the slam dunk category. But unlike Mack, Hurley wasn't just debating between staying at his old school or moving to a bigger league and better program. Pitt was also tugging on Hurley's ear. Ultimately the 45-year-old took the more sensible job for him and his personality. It would have been devastating to UConn's fan base and administration if Hurley picked the Panthers over the Huskies. His decision stabilized some of UConn's standing in college basketball.
UConn's in a critical time of transition. The Huskies should be a top-three team in the American year over year. Hurley's tenure will go a long way to proving if that's the case, or if UConn is a few stages removed from what it was in the Big East under Jim Calhoun. Hurley's built to thrive at a place like UConn, but a lingering question is how many five-star types Hurley will get to Storrs. Keep in mind, this isn't the Dan Hurley you might have in your mind. That guy is gone. Hurley was quite successful at Rhode Island. At UConn, the expectations are fivefold to URI. Keeping that in mind, I think he will will be about as good in Storrs as he was in Kingston.
College basketball coaching moves 2018: Ranking the top new hires of the offseason and last season
UConn: Dan Hurley
Previously: Head coach at Rhode Island
Career record: 151-105
NCAA Tournament record: 2-2
Regular-season conference championships: 1
Evaluation: UConn is similar to Louisville in that it reeled in its top target -- a high-profile target at that -- so it easily lands in the slam dunk category. But unlike Mack, Hurley wasn't just debating between staying at his old school or moving to a bigger league and better program. Pitt was also tugging on Hurley's ear. Ultimately the 45-year-old took the more sensible job for him and his personality. It would have been devastating to UConn's fan base and administration if Hurley picked the Panthers over the Huskies. His decision stabilized some of UConn's standing in college basketball.
UConn's in a critical time of transition. The Huskies should be a top-three team in the American year over year. Hurley's tenure will go a long way to proving if that's the case, or if UConn is a few stages removed from what it was in the Big East under Jim Calhoun. Hurley's built to thrive at a place like UConn, but a lingering question is how many five-star types Hurley will get to Storrs. Keep in mind, this isn't the Dan Hurley you might have in your mind. That guy is gone. Hurley was quite successful at Rhode Island. At UConn, the expectations are fivefold to URI. Keeping that in mind, I think he will will be about as good in Storrs as he was in Kingston.
