UConn Head Coach Focuses on Faith After Back-to-Back NCAA Wins

Published: April 10, 2024

UConn Head Coach Focuses on Faith After Back-to-Back NCAA Wins

By Movieguide® Contributor

University of Connecticut men’s basketball head coach Dan Hurley just led his team to back-to-back National Championships titles.

Hurley, whose foundation is his faith, told “The Ed Mylett Show” what has helped him in his career.

“My foundation is super strong,” he said. “My foundation starts with my faith—my faith in Jesus Christ…That foundation that I have at home and my faith, like I can handle anything that comes with this job—the criticism, the losing, the going through tough stretches. I am built to handle everything that comes with this job because of my background, my foundation.”

Hurley begins each morning by spending time with the Lord.

“Your spiritual readings and your prayer, your meditation practice,” he said. “For me, my journaling, whether it’s free writing or gratitude journaling.”

While at the Final Four, Hurley revealed that he prays after each win.

“When I get back in the locker room after a great victory, I find just a couple minutes to pray—to pray to God—to be grateful and thankful for giving me and the team the strength,” he said. “I think about all the people that you’ve lost in life that are in Heaven that have helped you get here.

“When you’re going through the struggles, too, it’s the faith, your faith in God, that gets you through the tough times,” he added. “Whether it’s good times or bad times, your faith in Jesus Christ is what’s going to be your rock.”

This year, Hurley’s son Andrew joined his dad’s team as a walk-on senior. He played in both of UConn’s National Championship wins.

Hurley explained that the pressure the team felt helped them prove their dominance in a 75-60 victory over Purdue.

He said, “Everyone in the Final Four now feels pressure, but we don’t have more pressure on us than Alabama, Purdue or N.C. State because everyone here believes they’re going to win the national championship. What helps us, though, is the pressure that we feel from the beginning of the season, because of the history and the tradition, and the pressure of every game that we play at UConn. We’re not under the radar ever.”