Juan Santamaria’s World Historical past II trainer comes up typically, greater than any 38-year-old’s highschool trainer ought to. Santamaria lately attended a soccer occasion in Kansas Metropolis and located himself in a crowd of basketball followers. He seen a person studying “The Miracle of St. Anthony,” a e-book about legendary highschool basketball coach Bob Hurley Sr.
“You recognize, I do know his son, Dan Hurley,” Santamaria mentioned.
“No manner,” the person replied. “I really like Dan.”
“I’m severe,” Santamaria mentioned. “He was my historical past trainer.”
His viewers wasn’t shopping for it.
“Sure,” Santamaria mentioned. “That’s how he began.”
UConn coach Dan Hurley has spoken typically about his days at St. Benedict’s Preparatory College in Newark, N.J., and the way they formed the person he’s now: an elite school basketball coach, winner of the final two males’s nationwide titles, who this summer time turned down an opportunity to teach the Los Angeles Lakers.
Not as a lot is understood about Hurley’s days as a trainer, a task typically required of highschool coaches. He referenced them throughout a information convention in April on the Ultimate 4 in Arizona, discussing how he realized to regulate a classroom, first at St. Anthony, the place he taught well being, bodily schooling, intercourse schooling and driver’s schooling, then at St. Benedict’s, the place he labored from 2001 to 2010.
How did this ultra-intense coach, one with a red-faced repute for difficult gamers and officers, adapt to the classroom, instructing the French Revolution and the collapse of the Roman Empire?
Knowledgeable lately that The Athletic had spoken with a few dozen former St. Benedict’s college students, in addition to management and school, about his instructing days, Hurley laughed. “Oh, God,” he mentioned, as if uncertain of what was to return. A liberal research main at Seton Corridor with a minor in prison justice, Hurley mentioned instructing World Historical past II was in all probability probably the most nervous he’s been in his life. He additionally doesn’t assume he’s ever labored tougher.
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St. Benedict’s within the early 2000s had a various enrollment of about 500. It was an all-boys college, grades seven via 12. The college calendar included out-of-classroom periods designed to get college students concerned in group service or different actions akin to climbing or martial arts. The gown code was button-down shirts with ties, though in later years this modified to hoodies.
Hurley, who had simply misplaced his job as an assistant coach at Rutgers, labored in admissions along with teaching and instructing. He was 28 and married with a 2-year-old son. On most days, his work schedule unfolded like this:
8:30-11 a.m.: Educating historical past. World Historical past II, which most college students took as sophomores, lined European historical past, beginning with the Center Ages. Main as much as his first week, Hurley studied past the textbook as a result of he was satisfied “some wise-ass children have been going to check me.” These near him, nevertheless, thought it was a superb match.
“I believed historical past was in all probability up his alley as a result of it’s a whole lot of memorization,’’ mentioned Hurley’s older brother, Arizona State coach Bobby Hurley. “You don’t need to do labs or something. If he was doing that, I’d be scared he may blow the varsity up or one thing.”
11 a.m.-2 p.m.: Visiting faculties. Driving a school-issued car, Hurley would go to grade faculties in Newark, Irvington and East Orange and discuss to college students about the advantages of St. Benedict’s. This showcased Hurley’s individuals abilities, ignored all through his profession in basketball.
“He’s a kind of guys, if individuals catch him getting on a participant or getting on an official, it’s, ‘Oh, that’s what he’s like,’” mentioned P.J. Carlesimo, who coached Hurley at Seton Corridor. “However for those who discuss to the gamers particularly, or guys he taught, they’d say, ‘No, no, no.’ They’d do something for him.”
3-6 p.m.: Teaching basketball. Hurley would end his apply plan and run apply. Some nights the Grey Bees might need a recreation. Others, he’d keep late and greet guests at a faculty honest. If nothing else, Hurley would return house and grade papers.
Father Edwin Leahy, the headmaster at St. Benedict’s, by no means doubted Hurley would put within the work, principally as a result of Hurley had watched his dad do it for years at St. Anthony, the place he had received 26 state championships.
“St. Anthony was only a tiny little field in the course of Jersey Metropolis proper earlier than the Holland Tunnel and all people did no matter they needed to do to make the factor work,’’ Leahy mentioned. “Danny grew up in that sort of an atmosphere of watching these adults, whether or not they have been the non secular sisters or the lay individuals who would do no matter they needed to do. So instructing historical past, I don’t assume it was one thing that he was enthusiastic about at first, however he knew you probably did no matter you needed to do.”
Former college students describe Hurley principally in 3 ways: He had a presence. He had a humorousness. And he had swag.
“Rising up as a child within the interior metropolis, in Newark or anyplace round there, you knew all of the neighbors,” mentioned Joe Carratura, Class of 2004. “You can play outdoors all day lengthy. All people sat on their stoop. Miss Susie down the road was your babysitter. It was only a group, and he felt like he belonged there.”
Marc Onion taught English. Shortly after Hurley’s rent, Onion went and watched a summer time basketball exercise. He seen the AC was shut off and Hurley had his guys taking part in not full courtroom however full gymnasium, with the bleachers pulled again. No out of bounds. No fouls. Simply seize the ball and go. A check of wills.
Within the classroom, Onion seen a unique atmosphere however related management. Hurley walked across the room. He posted up within the nook. He by no means sat behind his desk. “He’d sit alongside the entrance edge and form of be the large commander over the children within the room,” Onion mentioned. “He had the wherewithal to know that, ‘All proper, I’m going to be attentive to each man on this area simply by being in actually shut proximity.’”
“I feel the worst factor generally to say in regards to the trainer and the category is there’s no self-discipline,” Hurley mentioned. “Like, ‘The children present no respect for the trainer.’ So for me it felt like if I ever went behind the desk, my presence wouldn’t be simply as sturdy. And I’d be opening up the door for some stage of anarchy.”
Most of Hurley’s courses had 20 or so college students. Some known as him “Coach.” Others known as him “Hurley.” He assigned them nicknames. If somebody wore a Dennis Rodman jersey, he grew to become “Rodman” for the remainder of the varsity 12 months. If somebody had slicked-back hair, he grew to become “Slick.” Santamaria, a 2004 grad, was shortened to “Santa-man.”
Hurley introduced check scores by soccer place and jersey quantity. Those that scored within the 80s have been huge receivers. We obtained a Jerry Rice. Those that failed, scoring within the 20s, for instance, would get a working again. Oh, we obtained an Emmitt Smith over right here.
Sure positions you’d wish to keep away from, Hurley mentioned.
“You’ll go in there and also you’d know there was going to be a joke right here and there,” Santamaria mentioned. “I loved his class as a result of I knew there was going to be banter. There was going to be some humor, some zings being thrown round, which all the time made it enjoyable.”
Hurley wore khakis and a basketball pullover. (“I’ve by no means been a garments individual,” he mentioned.) He walked with swagger. College students known as it the “Hurley Shuffle” and tried to imitate it within the hallway. “Folks have all the time made enjoyable of the best way I stroll,” Hurley mentioned. He had receding hair and a rising midsection. At lunch, Hurley would go together with school members to Department Brook Park the place he would seize just a few scorching canines with sauerkraut, onions or chili. Plan B was pizza.
His instructing fashion was direct. One pupil described it as, “Don’t bust my balls, I received’t bust yours.” One other joked that he felt like he needed to get his work performed as a result of he didn’t wish to need to run line drills within the gymnasium. Almost all agreed Hurley held them accountable.
“He cared about what he was doing and he cared in regards to the children that have been with him,” mentioned Jim Duffy, who additionally taught historical past. “I imply, the nickname stuff sounds cutesy, however to a sure extent that turns into a manner of classroom administration. Which is a complete trick to instructing as a result of for those who can’t handle a classroom, they’re going to eat you alive, whether or not you’re the basketball coach or not.”
Hurley’s second consecutive nationwide title put him in rarefied air, however he nonetheless thinks of his highschool teaching days. (Jamie Squire/Getty Pictures)
St. Benedict’s allowed college students to carry jobs across the college. This system was designed to show duty, whereas placing cash in college students’ pockets. Marcos Novoa’s job was to wash the gymnasium, which included Hurley’s workplace.
Novoa didn’t have Hurley in school. He wasn’t a lot of a basketball fan. However practically on daily basis, he entered Hurley’s workplace, which was the scale of a cubicle, and cleaned out his rubbish or straightened his desk. He was a jokester. Hurley was a jokester. They obtained alongside nicely.
“We have been all children, nevertheless it virtually felt like he may very well be one in all us,” mentioned Novoa, now a police officer in New Jersey. “If I had a difficulty, and I didn’t wish to deliver it to anybody necessary so to talk, I’d in all probability really feel extra snug going to him first. To me, he was any individual I may relate to somewhat bit greater than others.”
Mike Malinowski credit Hurley for getting him began on his path to instructing. At some point within the fall of 2003, he was consuming breakfast within the college cafeteria when Hurley and one other trainer known as him over. They requested Malinowski about his school plans. Malinowski listed 4 faculties he was contemplating. Hurley advised him he wanted to decide on Rutgers.
“He put me on that trajectory,’’ mentioned Malinowski, now in his fifteenth 12 months as a trainer. “I attended that college due to him. I went there, I met my spouse. I obtained concerned with a bunch of different nice academics and professors. I imply, not directly, did it will definitely lead me to grow to be a trainer? … I can’t lie and say I grew to become a trainer due to him, however I’d be remiss if I didn’t say I’m a greater trainer due to my expertise with him.”
As a basketball coach, Hurley took St. Benedict’s to a nationwide stage. He went 223-21 over 9 years, agonizing over every loss as Hurleys do. If St. Benedict’s had a tough recreation arising, he would have a check or a Historical past Channel video prepared for the following day’s class, one thing that might give him time to reset ought to the Grey Bees lose. Calling out was not one thing academics did at St. Benedict’s. Hurley doesn’t recall taking one sick day in 9 years.
(Talking of dropping, when Hurley known as final spring to debate the Lakers job, Leahy advised him he was out of his thoughts and wanted to consider his spouse, Andrea. “You’re going to lose extra video games with the Lakers than you’re going to lose at UConn, and also you’re a psychological case once you lose,” Leahy mentioned he advised Hurley. “You’re going to return house to Andrea and he or she’s going to hit you over the top with a pot. You may’t try this.”)
Many of the St. Benedict’s college students who spoke to The Athletic have adopted Hurley’s profession. From Wagner to Rhode Island, then to Connecticut, the place the 51-year-old is beginning his seventh season, they nonetheless see the identical man. Most mentioned that if they might cross Hurley on the sidewalk, he might not know their names, however he would acknowledge their faces.
“I’m fairly positive for those who put us in a room with Hurley, he’s gonna be the identical precise individual he was 20 years in the past,” mentioned Rui Ribeiro, a 2005 grad. “He’s going to crack jokes and make enjoyable of this and discuss that. That’s simply the kind of individual he’s, which is sweet. You shouldn’t change simply since you’re succeeding in life.”
Hurley, who was lately inducted into the St. Benedict’s Corridor of Fame, mentioned instructing was so much like teaching. Courses have been like practices. Exams and quizzes have been like video games. He needed to point out college students he was ready. He needed to make it enjoyable. He needed to point out he cared. Wanting again, he considers it a very powerful time of his skilled life, which is why he as soon as talked with Leahy about returning at some point to show historical past and coach ball, a profession come full circle.
With UConn about to chase a 3rd consecutive nationwide title, Hurley is aware of this appears far-fetched.
“I’ve all the time in my thoughts … who is aware of on the finish whether or not you’ve had sufficient of the excessive finish of sports activities and also you simply needed to get again to pure teaching or an expertise like that,” he mentioned, earlier than pausing. “In the long run, possibly. Who is aware of.”
(High picture: Michael Reaves / Getty Pictures)
