What did Hurley have to say about Greg McDermott, Tom Izzo, Mick Cronin and others?
Being the son of a coach, UConn’s Dan Hurley clearly grew up respecting the profession – and the people in it.
That’s become even more obvious in the past few days, as Hurley has passed out praise to his coaching competitors. And his sincerity rings as genuine.
The latest kind word for a fellow coach came Monday, when Hurley commented on the announcement from Creighton that longtime head coach Greg McDermott is retiring. McDermott compiled a 514-319 record (.617) over 25 seasons with Northern Iowa (2001-06), Iowa State (2006-10) and Creighton (2010-26), a member of the Big East since 2013.
McDermott took Northern Iowa to the NCAA Tournament three times and Creighton on 10 occasions. His record at Creighton was 365-188 (.660), including 15-17 this season.
“Congrats Big Mac!! One of the best coaches in the game and a great guy,” Hurley posted to his X account about McDermott's retirement.
Hurley probably won’t be unhappy to see McDermott go, though.
The first meeting between the Blue Jays and Huskies didn’t come until the 2020-21 season – Hurley’s third at UConn. In that span, UConn is 4-10 against Creighton, 1-1 this season.
Overall, Hurley’s record with the Huskies is 196-74. McDermott’s Bluejays account for 13.5% of those defeats.
On Thad Matta
Matta recently announced his retirement, capping a coaching career that began with one season at Butler, three at Xavier, 13 at Ohio State and four more at Butler.
Hurley had this to say about Matta after UConn defeated Butler 80-70 on Feb. 11.
"I have so much respect for Thad. He's one of the best college coaches that in my generation, the work he did here the first time, what he did at Ohio State, when it was college basketball," Hurley told TNT Sports after the game. "He was one of the best at it, recruiting, developing. I've got so much respect for that guy.
"This new era, obviously, you know, I'm not sure he's got the resources to be where a coach of his caliber should be."
Tom Izzo
Come to find out, Hurley is part of a text group with Matta, Michigan State’s Izzo and UCLA head coach Mick Cronin. He considers Izzo a role model, and Hurley will put his coaching strategy against Izzo’s on Friday when their teams meet in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament on Friday in Washington, D.C.
UConn is the No. 2 seed in the East Region, Michigan State the No. 3.
Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo reacts to a call during the first half of NCAA Tournament first round against North Dakota State on March 19, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. Credit: Junfu Han /USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images"Talk about an honor to share the sideline with one of the greatest coaches, one of the most real coaches," Hurley told TNT on Sunday after UConn defeated UCLA 73-57. "He's not a phony in any way – what you see is what you get – and he's one of the greatest to ever do it. He's always been my most respected coach that I've tried to model myself after at the college level."
On Mick Cronin
In pregame news conferences leading up to the Sunday second-round game, the mutual admiration between Hurley and Cronin was evident. UConn won 73-57.
UConn head coach Dan Hurley reacts with UCLA head coach Mick Cronin in the second half during a second-round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia on March 22, 2026. Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images“When I look at Mick and coaches like Mick, they're all the coaches I have either modeled myself after or admired, is the one who can balance holding their players to the highest standard where the players have that respectful fear of their coach, and they love playing for their coach, you know? I think it takes a special coach to pull that off.
“If you look at most championship coaches, the Nick Sabans, Coach (Curt) Cignetti, Jay Wright, they ran really, really, really tight ships.”
On Bob Richey
Richey coaches Furman, the opponent for UConn in the first round of the tournament on Friday. The Huskies beat the Paladins 82-71.
“Just thrilled to advance and it was, I think, right before the Big East Tournament, I watched Furman and East Tennessee State on my couch before we left to go play in the Big East tournament,” Hurley said in his postgame news conference after beating Furman. “And I was praying that they weren't in that 15 seed line because just watching them and being familiar with Coach Richey, that guy's one of the best young coaches in the sport, their style of play, their offensive schemes, their culture, their level of play.
“I just couldn't say enough about the respect I have from – you watch nine or 10 of an opponent's games and you really study the quality, and that is just a big-time program. He's a big-time coach.”
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