Hurley Brothers At Wagner College
Hurley Brothers At Wagner College
Shortly after receiving the head coaching gig at Wagner College last April, Danny Hurley (right) promptly tapped his famous brother Bobby to help him build the program in Staten Island, N.Y.
Over the last nine years, Danny Hurley built a national powerhouse at St. Benedict's Prep in Newark, N.J., where he coached dozens of high-major prospects, including four McDonald's All-Americans.
Bobby Hurley won two national titles at Duke and remains the NCAA's all-time career assists leader. Bobby decided to enter the coaching realm under his brother after his thoroughbred racing business fell on hard times.
Despite growing up in his famous brother's shadow, Danny Hurley now the leading man at Wagner. Said Bobby: "There's no question in my mind who's the man here. It's Danny, and I'm completely happy with that."
Bobby and Danny Hurley grew up under the exacting eye of Bob Hurley Sr., who over the summer became just the third high school coach to be inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame.
Danny Hurley felt that Bobby was a no-brainer hire. "Not a lot of staffs have someone who was arguably the best point guard ever to play college basketball and a lottery pick," Danny said. "Plus, loyalty and trust is at a premium. If you can't trust your brother, who can you trust?"
Danny Hurley nearly made the leap to college coaching two years ago, when he briefly accepted the job at Marist before deciding to back out because its campus in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., is too far from his home in Freehold, N.J.
Bob Hurley Sr. on Bobby's new profession: "This is not just something Bobby is doing now. I see him being a college coach, and this is an opportunity to learn the business and be part of rebuilding a program."
The Hurley brothers underwent a whirlwind recruiting trip across the country in July, evaluating 140 prospects by Danny's count.