UConn’s Dan Hurley earns Saint Francis Award at Franciscan Sports Banquet: ‘Faith has been my rock’

SOUTHINGTON — A year earlier, Mike Krzyzewski had captivated the crowd of more than 800 at Aqua Turf Club with a speech that mixed humor, humility and compassion. All just a few days after his daughter’s house had burnt to the ground.

With that in mind, Dan Hurley had some big shoes to fill as this year’s recipient of the 38th annual Franciscan Sports Banquet’s Saint Francis Award — even with a bit of a homecourt advantage.

“Public speaking’s not my greatest strength,” Hurley said prior to taking his seat at the dais. “But this is a very friendly audience for me.”

Indeed, just as easily as Hurley joined Krzyzewski as one of three living men’s college basketball coaches who’ve won back-to-back NCAA championships this past season, he delivered a typically off-the-cuff speech that entertained and enlightened the record crowd.

Hurley was presented with the Saint Francis Award for for his commitment and dedication to Christian values and athletics. He joined a long line of former UConn and/or college basketball dignitaries to be so honored, beginning with Jim Calhoun in 1990 and including Geno Auriemma, Randy Edsall, Kevin Ollie, Scott Burrell, Jay Wright and, of course, Krzyzewski. 

“Being here on a night like this, with the impact that the Franciscan Life Center has on the state of Connecticut, on so many good people that they help and the commitment they make for serving others, it just feels great to be here,” Hurley said. 

Hurley reflected on his Catholic upbringing, attending St. Anthony’s High and Seton Hall as a student-athlete, then as a coach (and history teacher) at Saint Benedict’s Prep.

“It’s the perfect blend of tough love you get when you’re raised in Catholic schools, and the power from growing up in an incredibly strong family,” the UConn men’s basketball coach noted. “Mom and dad who were just good enough parents. They were loving enough that I’m not all screwed up, and they were tough on me enough that I’m not soft.”

At Seton Hall, Hurley noted that he struggled with mental health and where his life was going.

“My faith and God has been my rock,” he noted.

Hurley wasn’t the night’s only honoree. The Saint Clare Award went to Sister Mary Jo Sobieck, of the Dominican Sisters of Springfield, Ill., who is perhaps best known as the nun who threw out a first pitch before a 2018 Chicago White Sox game with such panache that the video went viral and earned an ESPY nomination. 

Former longtime ESPN executive Mike Soltys won the Dean of Sports Award. The Antonacci Family of USA Waste & Recycling, Inc. was presented with the Jim Calhoun Community Service Award, and the Mother Shaun Appreciation Award went to the volunteers for the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist.

Connecticut Special Olympics athletes were also recognized on Tuesday.

But no doubt, the chance to see and hear the two-time consecutive national champion head coach with the dynamic personality (and willingness to pose for selfies and sign autographs for nearly an hour after the ceremony) was what brought the record crowd of 1,012.

“There’s been a recount,” Calhoun quipped from the dais. “I had 1,106 (in 1990) … And I didn’t bring my team, either.”

UConn assistants Kimani Young, Luke Murray and Tom Moore were at the event, as well as several other current members of the Husky staff.

“All of us have a tough time saying, ‘I don’t know’ or ‘You can’t tell me,'” Calhoun later said. “Danny had the courage to seek me out, and yet the belief in himself he can get this done. People ask, ‘Do you root for him?’ They’re our Huskies. I came here in 1986. I had a Plymouth Duster. He did things for us that our unimaginable.”

Then, Calhoun got sarcastic for a moment.

“The language he uses on the sidelines, I don’t know where he got it from,” he quipped. “But he can coach. He can really coach. More importantly, he’s a good man.”

Hurley complimented the 2023-24 Huskies who topped the national title from a year earlier and went 37-3 overall, winning every NCAA Tournament game by double digits.

“It’s rare that a team is beautiful to watch play, plays relentlessly hard, but can also be incredibly efficient, and have the connectiveness they had together,” he said. “It was beautiful to watch play.”

He also noted that he still can’t win a close game.

“What we’ve decided to do,” Hurley noted, “is just blow people out.”