The Men’s Basketball Team, along with their friends and family, got advice on basketball, coaching, and life from legendary basketball coach Bob Hurley Sr. at the Tip-Off Dinner on Thursday, October 12, 2017.
Hurley spoke about how he first started coaching as an 18 year old for CYO Basketball before taking a job at St. Anthony’s High School in Jersey City, N.J., where his teams won 28 state championships and four national titles.
College Trustee and former DC Basketball Player Michael McLaughlin introduced Coach Hurley by saying that he has changed lives. “You want to talk about character? Here’s a man that could have demanded a seven or eight figure contract and gotten it at will later on in his career,” said McLaughlin. “He bypassed that because there was a community that needed him.”
Coach Hurley said over the years he became comfortable in his skin and learned the best way to coach based on his personality. His advice to the players in attendance was that they should concentrate on individually being the best they can be.
Coach Hurley was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010 and was a 2017 ESPY Award winner as “Best Coach.” He ended his speech talking about the ESPY award ceremony and being among great athletes.
“From being in a little gym, upper 30 school in Jersey City on Friday nights at 18, to being almost 70 years old being on the ESPY’s, it was quite a run,” he said.
The 2017 Men’s Basketball Tip-Off Dinner was held at Casa Mia Manor House in Blauvelt.