“One player can sink your program”: Dan Hurley once highlighted key factors he looks for while recruiting a player

Dan Hurley is one of the most successful coaches in modern-day college basketball, having helped UConn Huskies win two national championships. He has ensured that his roster builds on the constantly changing dynamics of the sport, be it the three-point usage or efficient big-men and maintained school-oriented elements of harboring a winning culture.

In an interview with CBS Mornings on April 6, Dan Hurley was asked about his approach toward recruiting players for UConn. He shared the importance of elements other than a player’s basketball skills, athleticism and sheer talent in their success with the program.

"Have they played on 7 different travel teams?" Hurley said in light of a player's ability to adjust. "Have they transferred to 4/5 different high schools? When you talk to the parents in the recruiting process, were they constantly complaining about the coaches after a bad game or are they sending you a text and you having a conversation where their son is got to do more? He's got to play harder, he's got to work on his skills," he added.

"They tell on themselves, they drop hints. If you've got the wrong type of people in that inner circle around your players, that will sink your program," Hurley added.

Hurley believes that maintaining a healthy locker room, culture and coaching unit adds to a program's success and can boil down to every single player on the team. For the same reason, UConn has avoided pursuing "neon talent" in the past due to a few personality traits and settled for a dependable role-player.

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Dan Hurley has finalized his $50 million deal with UConn

Dan Hurley's love for the raw things in college basketball and drive for a three-peat forced him to reject his dream role of coaching in the NBA. Had UConn been coming out of a losing season, Hurley would have had a different stance on his big-league entry.

Nevertheless, Dan Hurley has officially signed the rumored $50 million (six years) extension contract with the UConn Huskies. The month-long agreement was materialized on July 10, keeping Hurley with the Connecticut school until the end of the 2029-30 season.

A major part of the contract is Hurley's power to retain his coaching staff, which includes Kimani Young, Tom Moore and Luke Murray, until his tenure.