Dan Hurley To Make EG His Home

Another URI Mens Basketball coach is coming to East Greenwich. Dan Hurley, who was named the new URI men’s basketball coach in March, said Wednesday night he and his family will settle here in EG.

Hurley said they are renting a house off Shippeetown Road now and that their two sons will attend Our Lady of Mercy School in the fall. 

Former URI Basketball coach Jim Baron lives in East Greenwich.

He was at the EG Chamber of Commerce's Business After Hours at the East Greenwich Yacht Club Wednesday night together with URI President David Dooley and other members of the URI athletic program. There was some definite Ram pride on display among Chamber members.

Hurley said he's planning to do for URI what he did at Wagner College in Staten Island, New York.

“We are going to use the same formula. We’re going to coach with great intensity and passion,” said Hurley. 

Hurley spent two years at Wagner, posting a record of 38-22. Wagner was 13-17 in his first season and 25-5 this year. Hurley took over a team that finished 5-26 in 2009-10.

Basketball coaching is a family affair. Hurley's father — Bob Hurley Sr. — is a longtime coach at St. Anthony High School in Jersey City. His brother, Bob Jr., has come to URI with Dan, as assistant coach. He and his family have moved to Cranston. 

The Hurley brothers spent time in Rhode Island before. Their father ran a basketball camp at Portsmouth Abbey and they would help out.

As for what fans can expect, Hurley said the program will need a bit of time.

“We want to build the team the right way,” he said. “We have specific ideas about who we want to recruit.”

Still, he said the team should be in much better shape in a year.

“Hurleys don’t lose well!” he said, laughing.

Ed. Note: This story has been revised since it was originally published.