STORRS \u2014 The UConn Family. It’s a real thing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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And not just the family-like atmosphere that Dan Hurley<\/a> and his staff promote with the UConn men’s basketball team<\/a>, or the lifelong bonds and “brotherhood” forged by UConn players over the years. All you had to do is attend one of those old Jim Calhoun Charity All-Star games at Mohegan Sun Arena to see the kinship between dozens of former Huskies, from Hall-of-Famers to walk-ons, recent graduates to recent retirees.<\/p>\n UConn family members, bonded by blood, have become key figures with the program, particularly since Hurley took over in 2018. And, in recent years, particularly UConn fathers. Or maybe all you have to know is that Bill Murray<\/a>, one of the most famous actor\/comedians of his generation, was just another face in the crowd behind the UConn bench at numerous games.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Hurley, of course, hails from one of the first families of basketball. His father, Bob Sr., is a Naismith Hall of Famer and the winngingest high school coach of all time. He’s a fixture at many UConn games (though, apparently, no longer games at Seton Hall<\/a>), and he remains one of Dan’s closest confidantes in the sport.<\/p>\n “I think a lot of my success, my joy, my strength, my faith comes from having a family that cared about me: siblings, a strong father figure that set a standard, held me accountable and responsible, didn’t let me be a victim,” Dan Hurley told CT Insider in an interview. “And showed us how much he loved us by how much time he invested in us. Some of it was tough love, but it was love.”<\/p>\n Make CT Insider a preferred source on Google to see more of our journalism when you search.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Add Preferred Source<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n For the past six years, the Hurley father-son basketball bond has extended to a new generation, with Dan’s son Andrew on the Huskies’ roster for four seasons as a walk-on, and the past two as a grad assistant. He’d like to be a general manager someday, and appears well on that path.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n UConn assistant coach Luke Murray (left) with his father, actor Bill Murray, at the NBA Draft in Brooklyn, N.Y. on Wednesday, June 26, 2024.<\/p>\n Mike Anthony\/Hearst Connecticut <\/p>\n “I think he’s got a unique perspective,” Dan said of Andrew. “He’s been exposed to it his whole life. There’s things he knows about team and talent that he’s learned organically by being in my huddles, my locker rooms, in car rides, bus rides, plane rides, restaurants … he’s been around all of my teams his whole life.”<\/p>\n Associate head coach\u00a0Kimani Young has had both of his sons as grad assistants in recent years, including younger son Khaliq, who’s been a student-manager the past four season and is\u00a0expected to be back with the program, in some capacity, next season.<\/p>\n And while Bill Murray’s contributions to the program had more to do with being the No. 1 celebrity fan and occasionally sporting a “Joey California” T-shirt or the like, Luke’s young sons became part of the fabric of the team over the past few years. Luke Jr. and Cash\u00a0were ubiquitous around the program, particularly in March, hanging out in the locker room, “interviewing” players and even taking part in championship celebrations.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n “They\u2019re beyond blessed to be part of it,” said Luke, who left the program this spring after five seasons to take over the head coaching job at Boston College. “They feel like they know those guys. They watch them on TV and celebrate them as UConn or pro\u00a0players. They were climbing ladders, cutting nets. Once-in-a lifetime stuff.”<\/p>\n Well, twice-in-a-lifetime, anyway.<\/p>\n Guests of Donovan\u00a0Clingan celebrate after he is drafted seventh overall by the Portland Trailblazers during the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 26, 2024 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.\u00a0<\/p>\n Sarah Stier\/Getty Images<\/p>\n Father figures<\/p>\n Of course, it’s not just the dads. Dan Hurley’s mom, Christine, was scorekeeper for his games at St. Anthony High and remains by her husband’s side for many UConn games. She even famously unleashed a multi-syllabic curse word<\/a> (or two) after Braylon Mullins’ shot beat Duke. Dan’s wife, Andrea, self-admits she knows next to nothing about basketball but functions as a sort of team mom, as well as a leader in charitable endeavors and a ubiquitous presence at games.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Meanwhile, UConn players’ moms have become a phenomenon of their own<\/a>, both at games or on social media.\u00a0 Kemba Walker’s mom, Andrea, was famous for her animated support of the team, and she was joined a couple of years later by Carmen Velasquez, Shabazz Napier’s mom. The pair attend games together to this day.<\/p>\n Ryan Boatright’s mom, Tanesha, later joined the fray to form a vocal trio, even after Kemba had graduated. R.J. Cole’s mom, Javicia, was a ubiquitous presence at games or on X, where she ferociously supported her son and defended him against online tough guys. More recently, Quannette Castle<\/a> (“Momma Castle” on X) did the same.<\/p>\n But UConn dads have really stepped up their game lately, too. Bill Clingan is a vocal supporter of Donovan, swatting\u00a0away negative posters on social media as artfully as his son swats away opponents’ shots. Their bond, no doubt, has been strengthened<\/a> by the 2018 death of Bill’s wife and Donovan’s mom, Stacey.<\/p>\n More recently, Silas Demary Sr. and Josh Mullins have emerged as vocal\u00a0UConn dads at games or on social media. And sure, they may occasionally post something they may regret.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Stephon Castle’s parents, Quannette and Stacey, at the Hoophall Classic in Springfield.<\/p>\n David Borges\/Hearst CT Media<\/p>\n “Sometimes we say things,” Josh\u00a0Mullins confessed. “But I think he recruits the best parents. There’s morals and\u00a0values. It isn’t just about basketball here. There’s a culture on the court with the team, or on the outside with parents who are always telling their kids, ‘this is what it’s about,’ not going behind coaches’ backs and saying ‘Coach is doing this.'”<\/p>\n “We\u2019re looking for\u00a0Braylon’s success, but also\u00a0UConn’s success,” he continued. “There’s a reason they put five guys on the court. It\u2019s a team with kids, but really a team with parents. It’s one big culture that I love.\u201d<\/p>\n Every once in a while, according to Hurley, the staff “recrjits” the wrong parents.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n “The times we get ourselves in trouble are the times where we ignore the warning signs of it. But, I think paying close attention to those levels of accountability, responsibility, instilling a work ethic, bringing in a young man with some pedigree, discipline and sacrifice, the work habits, competitiveness, the not-being-a-victim mentality. You don’t want people in the program that bring that mentality. They’ll really hurt your team.”<\/p>\n They played the game<\/p>\n Not surprisingly, many UConn dads were former athletes themselves. Josh\u00a0Mullins played two seasons at IU-Indy. Stacey Castle, Steph’s dad, was Tim Duncan’s teammate at Wake Forest.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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