During a segment on ESPN’s First Take on Monday, Jay Williams proposed Dan Hurley as a possible successor for the North Carolina head coaching position, amid growing pressure on Hubert Davis. This suggestion comes as Davis faces increasing scrutiny following the Tar Heels’ unexpected first-round loss to the VCU Rams in the NCAA Tournament.
Williams challenged the prevailing notion that North Carolina should only hire internally, suggesting that the program might benefit from considering candidates from other schools.
“Let me ask you something,” Williams said. “If North Carolina could get Danny Hurley, would you go outside the family? If North Carolina could get Nate Oats over at Alabama, would you go outside the family? I think that style and tempo would be great to see in Carolina Blue.”
Despite Hubert Davis’ impressive record of 125 wins and 54 losses over five years, and nearly a 70% win rate, he is under pressure for not meeting the program’s tournament expectations. Meanwhile, Dan Hurley has elevated UConn’s profile in March Madness, securing tournament appearances for six consecutive seasons after missing the first two with the Huskies.
Hurley’s tenure at UConn has seen progressive improvement, with two national championship titles following initial Round of 64 exits. Although the team fell in the Round of 32 last season, they are now strong contenders for the Final Four, having secured a Sweet 16 berth with a victory over UCLA on Sunday.
Tom Izzo’s Advice to Dan Hurley on an NBA Opportunity
Dan Hurley’s achievements at UConn have attracted interest from various teams, including those in the NBA. Michigan State coach Tom Izzo disclosed on Monday that he advised Hurley regarding a $70 million, six-year offer from the Los Angeles Lakers.
“I told him to seriously look at it because I could see where college basketball was going,” he said. “But I said I would hate to lose him because I think he’s all that is right about college basketball. He cares about kids. He cares about the game.”
The upcoming NCAA tournament round will see Hurley and Izzo face off against each other.
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Edited by Kayode Akinwumi
