{"id":197615,"date":"2025-09-03T19:33:09","date_gmt":"2025-09-03T19:33:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/197615\/"},"modified":"2025-09-03T19:33:09","modified_gmt":"2025-09-03T19:33:09","slug":"uconns-hurley-considered-stepping-down-due-to-emotional-burnout-i-thought-about-leaving","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/197615\/","title":{"rendered":"UConn\u2019s Hurley considered stepping down due to emotional burnout: \u2018I thought about leaving\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

UConn coach Dan Hurley<\/a> considered stepping down after last season due to emotional burnout, he revealed in his new memoir.<\/p>\n

His camp was also in discussions with FOX about Hurley joining the network as an analyst. Hurley\u2019s former agent, Jordan Bazant, is now the executive vice president of FOX Sports.<\/p>\n

The book, \u201cNever Stop: Life, Leadership, and What It Takes To Be Great,\u201d was co-written with best-selling author Ian O\u2019Connor.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought about leaving,\u201d Hurley wrote, per Andrew Marchand of The Athletic<\/a>. \u201cTaking a gap year. Resigning as head coach of the UConn Huskies.\u201d<\/p>\n

After two straight NCAA championships, the Huskies lost to eventual NCAA champion Florida in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.<\/p>\n

\u201cI knew my mind, and I knew my body, and I could feel that I was completely cooked,\u201d wrote Hurley, the Jersey City native and former Seton Hall guard. \u201cJust burnt. I didn\u2019t even know how I was standing. I stared at the office walls, muttering, conducting a brutal review of our season. I didn\u2019t build a strong enough roster. I wasn\u2019t a good leader. I let everyone down in Maui. I lost control, emotionally, at various points. I came in here some days sad and defeated, when I needed to be positive and inspiring. Then I went through the self-lacerating what-ifs: What if we\u2019d played a little bit better in Maui? What if we hadn\u2019t blown that game against Seton Hall? What if we\u2019d been a better seed than an eight seed and hadn\u2019t needed to face a number one in the second round? Who knows?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was unhealthy to be ruminating this way. I was unhealthy. I desperately needed to get out of town, flee to my standard hideaway, Dorado Beach in San Juan. I needed to do some healing, not think about basketball for a few days. But that wasn\u2019t possible in this new era. The transfer portal and NIL deals made every college player a free agent, so right after the tournament I needed to be in my office, in Storrs. If I left town right then, I wouldn\u2019t have a team for the 2025-26 season.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt that point, I wasn\u2019t even sure that I would return for the 2025-26 season.\u201d<\/p>\n

Numerous high-profile college football and basketball coaches – including Alabama\u2019s Nick Saban in football and Duke\u2019s Mike Krzyzewski, North Carolina\u2019s Roy Williams, Villanova\u2019s Jay Wright, Virginia\u2019s Tony Bennett and Syracuse\u2019s Jim Boeheim in basketball – have stepped down in recent years in the aftermath of the rise of the transfer portal and Name, Image and Likeness payments to players.<\/p>\n

\u201cI even talked to a TV executive about doing some commentary,\u201d Hurley wrote. \u201cThe previous summer, I talked to Jay Wright about life after basketball. He said he was actually happy, sleeping. He wasn\u2019t sick to his stomach nine months of the year.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hurley last summer turned down a six-year, $70-million offer<\/a> to coach LeBron James and the L.A. Lakers in favor of remaining at UConn on a 6-year, $50 million deal.<\/p>\n

Hurley has remained linked to the Knicks<\/a>, which might be his dream job, although they just hired Mike Brown<\/a> as their new coach.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think if Danny Hurley got into the NBA, there\u2019s no doubt he can coach,\u201d former Denver Nuggets coach Mike Malone <\/a>told NJ Advance Media.<\/p>\n

Meantime, Hurley\u2019s team is ranked in the Top 5 of several preseason polls heading into the 2025-26 season.<\/p>\n

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription.<\/p>\n

Adam Zagoria is a freelance reporter and Basketball Insider for NJ Advance Media. You may follow him on Twitter @AdamZagoria <\/a>and check out his Website at ZAGSBLOG.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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