Juan Santamaria often has fond memories of his World History II teacher from high school, Dan Hurley. Dan, now an elite college basketball coach and winner of the last two national titles, had a significant influence on Santramaria and other students during his teaching days at St. Benedict’s Preparatory School in Newark, New Jersey.
Hurley juggled multiple roles at St. Benedict’s, serving as a history teacher and basketball coach while also working in admissions. He had a meticulous work schedule that included teaching history in the morning, visiting schools in the afternoon to talk about the benefits of St. Benedict’s, and coaching basketball in the evening. Despite his busy routine, Hurley left a lasting impression on his students and colleagues through his unique teaching style, engaging personality, and keen sense of humor.
St. Benedict’s, in the early 2000s, consisted of around 500 students from grades seven through 12. The students, much like faculty members, held Hurley in high regard. Using non-conforming methods such as assigning nicknames to students and announcing test scores by football position and jersey number, Hurley kept the class lively and engaging. He even walked around with a distinct swagger, which the students fondly dubbed as the “Hurley Shuffle.”
While his teaching style was direct, Hurley still managed to strike a chord with his students. Former student Mike Malinowski says Hurley steered him towards his chosen career in teaching. Even though many former students have stated that Hurley was firm with his rules and held them accountable, they agreed that he genuinely cared for the students and their welfare.
His high school coaching days continue to hold a significant place in Hurley’s heart, irrespective of his high-flying success as a college basketball coach. Though his students might not all remember him, he recognizes his time as a teacher being instrumental in shaping who he is today. Moreover, his commitment to his profession ensures that his students, even today, remember him as more than just a teacher.
While Hurley admits that returning to teach at St. Benedict’s seems unlikely, considering he is now chasing his third consecutive national title with UConn, he does not entirely rule out the possibility. He reflects on his teaching career as a formative time in his professional life and the idea of coming full circle to one day teach history and coach basketball again is an intriguing prospect.
