Dan Hurley, University of Connecticut’s (UCONN’s) Men’s Basketball coach was recently referred to as a villain. His sideline tirades, intensity, and boorish in-game behavior earned him the reference (https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6101513/2025/01/31/dan-hurley-coach-villain-college-basketball/ ). Joe Rexrode’s piece in The Athletic (January 31, 2025) triggered memories of another intense and eccentric coach from the 1970s, Al McGuire. There was Al McGuire before Dan Hurley.
Al McGuire coached at Marquette University from 1965 to 1977. This was when they were the Warriors rather than the Golden Eagles. He was hired in April 1964 as a 35-year old. His coaching stops included Dartmouth College, as an assistant, and Belmont College, as a head coach before Marquette. After winning the 1977 NCAA national championship against North Carolina, Al McGuire retired at age 48.
According to Rexrode, “Hurley’s authentic outspoken personality inspires emotion in others.” So did Al McGuire’s personality and view of the world. There was Al McGuire before Dan Hurley.
A native New Yorker, Al McGuire had street savvy, confidence, poise, and personality. He was obnoxious, surly, and arrogant. His teams were an extension of him. Like Hurley, McGuire possessed a fiery temper that often lead to histrionics during games. He got the best out of his players. Al McGuire was an excellent recruiter and game coach. Its been said that McGuire was a master of tactics in the final minutes of a game.
Like Hurley, McGuire also stood out for his sideline behavior. Al McGuire incurred technical fouls in the NCAA tournament by kicking the scorer’s table. In another tournament game he incurred two more technical fouls. These of course are mortal sins at critical points of a game. Al McGuire was lively and unpredictable, often dancing on the court after a big win. McGuire stalked the sidelines with intensity.
According to Dick Enberg, former broadcaster, and on-air colleague of Al McGuire’s, “No one could coach a basketball game better than McGuire. He could work the players, the referees, and the crowd like no one else.” This sounds like our present day Dan Hurley. There was Al McGuire before Dan Hurley.
McGuire prided himself on graduation rates and broadening his player’s horizons by bringing them to theaters and encouraging them to travel the world (sportswriter, Dave Hannigan in facebook.com/AlMcGuiresWarriors/). McGuire reportedly graduated 92% of his players.
During the 1977 season, the Marquette Warriors got attention for wearing untucked and self-designed jerseys. This of course was 48+ years before name, image, and likeness (NIL) that might have compensated those players.
Marquette player, Bo Ellis (1977) designed the team’s untucked jerseys. Bo Ellis was eccentric and a fashion design major. Al McGuire found a nearby college to meet Ellis’ vocational interests and area of study. At the time, the jerseys were a revolutionary statement and significant departure from the tucked-in style. It was said that Al McGuire would recruit eccentric players because he was eccentric.
Al McGuire’s view of the world was also a source of great amusement and highlighted his eccentricities. Some of his more notable quotes follow.
As McGuire pondered an upcoming season, “I see either roses or weeds. Its definitely going to depend upon if players really love each other, or just make believe. It all gets down to love. If we have love, we’ll be good. If we don’t, we’ll be bad.”
Regarding the technical fouls, “I think, I built a monster that has devoured me.”
As for inspiring his players after graduation, “Dream big. Don’t be just another guy going down the street and going nowhere.”
McGuire on good fortune, “When you’re getting the calls, getting the breaks in life, you don’t realize you’re getting them. You only realize when you’re not getting them.”
On the athleticism of point guard Dean Meminger, “Dean Meminger was quicker than an 11:15 morning mass at a seaside resort.”
On ingredients for winning a national championship, “You need really good guards to win a national championship. You can’t win without them, you know.”
Al McGuire on how to make the game more exciting, “Eliminate the referees, raise the basket, double the size of the basketball, limit the players to 5’9″, bring back the center jump, allow taxi drivers in for free, and allow players to carry guns.”
On life events, “I had my moment on the stage. The trick in life is to know when to leave.”
Al McGuire was innovative and provocative at the same time.
Besides the 1977 national championship, Marquette and Al McGuire won the NIT championship in 1970. This is when the NIT was comparable to the NCAA tournament. It was competitive and mattered as much. McGuire’s record was 295-80. His teams had 11 postseason appearances. Al McGuire was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992.
Following several business pursuits, McGuire had a lengthy career as a color commentator alongside Dick Engberg and Billy Packer. Al McGuire endured health problems and died January 2001 at 72.
Watching UCONN versus Marquette on February 1, 2025 before the 17,600 fans in Milwaukee, it reminded this Muse that there was Al McGuire before Dan Hurley.
References used in this Post:
hoopcoach.org/learning-from-legends-al-mcguire/
“Cracked Sidewalks and French Pastry: The Wit and Wisdom of Al McGuire,” by Tom Kertscher.
jerryratcliffe.com/an-unforgetable-day-with-al-mcguire-and-why-its-only-important-to-win-at-war-and-surgery/
nytimes.com/athletic/6101513/2025/01/31/dan-hurley-coach-villain-college-basketball
Dan Hurley image from KXAN Austin Sports. The Al McGuire image is from hoopcoach.org. No copyright infringement is intended.