PHILADELPHIA – UCLA head coach Mick Cronin and UConn’s Dan Hurley share striking similarities. Both stepped into powerhouse programs shaped by legendary predecessors. Cronin arrived at UCLA in 2019, long after John Wooden’s era, while Hurley took over UConn in 2018 with four-time national champion Jim Calhoun still active on campus.
Deep Connections Between the Coaches
Their staffs boast strong ties. UCLA lead assistant Darren Savino and Hurley trace their rivalry back to Little League in Jersey City, N.J. Savino also played high school basketball under Hurley’s father, Bob Hurley Sr., alongside Hurley’s brother, Bobby, who later starred at Duke and now coaches at Arizona State.
During Saturday’s media session ahead of Sunday’s matchup, Hurley recalled their youth. One reporter joked that Savino ‘ruined’ Hurley’s baseball dreams with home runs. ‘I don’t know if it was home runs,’ Hurley clarified. ‘It might have been a three-run – it was a big home run that I gave up to Darren. Anthony Caldrillo hit multiple home runs off of me.’
Uncompromising Intensity on the Sidelines
Both coaches demand peak performance with vocal, high-energy styles. Cronin often draws fan criticism for heated exchanges with players. Earlier this season, he pulled Steven Jamerson II during a Michigan State game over a perceived flagrant foul – later deemed a misjudgment. Cronin apologized the next day.
‘Get a life, bro. You want to win big?’ Cronin said Saturday. ‘Coach Hurley is intense, but you want to win? We’re not coaching Little League. Everybody doesn’t get an at-bat. They’re paying us to win games.’
Hurley echoed the sentiment: ‘The best programs enforce high accountability, responsibility, discipline, and standards. Holding young players to these daily forges championship teams and develops successful adults.’
He praised coaches like Cronin: ‘They balance high standards with players’ respect and love for the game. Championship coaches like Nick Saban, Curt Cignetti, and Jay Wright run tight ships.’
Sons of Coaching Legends
Growing up as high school coaches’ sons shaped them profoundly. Cronin’s father, Hep, coached in Cincinnati; Hurley’s was Bob Hurley Sr. in Jersey City.
‘Growing up in the gym gives you an edge through osmosis,’ Cronin explained. ‘You absorb advanced knowledge early – like attacking zones or late-game strategies – that others learn later.’
Hurley added: ‘If you don’t like me, you’d hate my dad. We coach personally because it’s our world. Emotional reactions stem from deep investment.’
Both entered college coaching ahead of peers, finishing coaches’ sentences in drills due to their upbringing.
Navigating Legendary Legacies
Hurley relates to Cronin’s UCLA pressure under Wooden’s shadow. ‘Coaches like us stay motivated internally despite external critiques and comparisons. NIL and the portal level the brand advantage.’
Cronin reflected on Wooden’s books: ‘He said only his first successor feels the pressure. It helped me focus. The standard is real, but I left my alma mater for this challenge.’
Success at UCLA and UConn demands resilience and thick skin from these fiery leaders.
