Is Dan Hurley related to Bobby Hurley? Get to know college basketball's famous coaching brothers

A deep run in the NCAA Tournament can turn a basketball team into a family, but some don't have to look very far to find their actual family.

Basketball fans of every generation know the Hurley family. The Hurleys have made their mark at the high school, college, and NBA ranks for several decades, and the latest chapter was written at the NCAA Tournament last year.

UConn's Dan Hurley won a national championship in 2023, finally breaking through after failing to win a tournament game in his first four seasons with the Huskies, and he now has his sights set on a second consecutive title with an even more dominant team. 

Hurley lost three starters from his 2023 championship team, perhaps making the work he's done with the 2024 team one of the biggest accomplishments of a family of basketball lifers.

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Here's what you need to know about the Hurley family, including Dan's well-known brother and father.

Is Dan Hurley related to Bobby Hurley?

Dan Hurley and Bobby Hurley are brothers, born less than two years apart. They have a combined 26 seasons under their belt as Division I head coaches.

Dan played at Seton Hall but has made his name as a head coach at UConn and Rhode Island. Bobby, though, first developed a reputation as a player. He was an All-American at Duke from 1989-1993, winning two national championships, and spent five seasons in the NBA from 1993-1998, but his career was derailed by a serious car accident during his rookie season. 

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While Bobby was the bigger name thanks to his playing career, it was Dan who gave him his first coaching opportunity. Dan spent nearly a decade as a high school head coach before taking the top job at Wagner and hiring his brother as an assistant. Dan took Bobby to Rhode Island on his staff two years later.

Bobby accepted the head coaching job at Buffalo in 2013 and left for Arizona State after taking the Bulls to the NCAA Tournament in 2015. With both programs making strides this past season, a March meeting of the Hurley brothers may not be too far away. 

Who is Bob Hurley?

It's no surprise the Hurley brothers are successful head coaches. Their father, Bob Hurley, set the standard.

The elder Hurley is one of the most successful high school coaches in basketball history, having served as head coach at St. Anthony High School for 45 seasons from 1972 to 2017. He won 26 state championships and become the third high school coach elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Hurley's run included five undefeated seasons, six NBA first-round picks, and reportedly many job offers at the college level that he turned down. His tenure at St. Anthony only ended when the school closed in 2017.

Both Hurley brothers played for their father. Now, in retirement, Bob can watch his sons lead major basketball programs on opposite sides of the country. If this season is any indication, the Hurley family is here to stay.

Dan Hurley coaching record

Hurley has had some slow starts at different stops, but he's managed to find success at Wagner, Rhode Island, and UConn.

Hurley went 25-6 in his second and final season at Wagner, and he later won an NCAA Tournament game at Rhode Island in back-to-back seasons. The Rams haven't returned to the tournament since he left to coach the Huskies.

After overcoming a losing season in year one at UConn, Hurley has steadily built the program back into a powerhouse and can achieve the ultra-rare feat of winning back-to-back national championships with three more wins.