For the first time ever in the NCAA’s March Madness Tournament, UConn was ranked as the No. 1 overall seed, the position from which it will defend its national champion title from last year. Present for the Connecticut men’s team’s first-ever time as the No. 1 overall seed is Coach Dan Hurley, the team’s fiercely competitive and emotional, and also Christian, coach.
Speaking about the team’s prospects headed into March Madness on Saturday, March 16, Coach Hurley said, “We’ve been the best team in college basketball.” Continuing, he praised how the team has done so far, saying, “Obviously, March Madness next week, who knows what goes on there, but we’ve clearly been the best program in the country this year.”
And while his team is playing in this year’s tournament, Coach Hurley will have a strong foundation: one in Jesus Christ. He spoke about that foundation during an August of 2023 appearance on “The Ed Mylett Show,” during which he explained his faith and how it is a foundation for his life and the stressful situations that come with the job.
Beginning, he said, “My foundation is super strong.” Continuing, 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.”
Watch Coach Hurley here:
Coach Hurley also is known to put prayer and faith first, literally. According to CTPost, which reported on Coach Hurley’s life in 2021, he starts off his days, days which are stressful given his situation, with prayer, then while in his office makes sure to engage in “spiritual priming” for the day. According to that outlet:
Hurley wakes up every day at 6 a.m. and almost always eats blueberries and raspberries for breakfast. He prays, meditates and works out before arriving in the office around 8:15. In Storrs, he uses a sauna and takes a cold shower in the locker room, then writes in a journal and reads in his office – where candles and an aromatherapy machine sets the mood. It’s all part of his “mental and spiritual priming” for a day’s work.
Further, Coach Hurley spoke at the Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Hartford’s Help and Hope breakfast on November 17. Thanking Coach Hurley for that, Catholic Charities CEO Marek Kukulka said, “We can’t thank Coach Hurley enough for supporting our mission. He and his family are shining examples of dedication and commitment that we feel perfectly illustrate the theme of this year’s fundraiser, which is fatherhood.”