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UConn Coach Hurley Takes Blame for Bench Mismanagement
Huskies head coach admits he "did a bad job" with his bench players over the last two weeks.
Published on Feb. 22, 2026
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After UConn's 73-63 win over Villanova, Huskies head coach Dan Hurley took accountability for mismanaging his bench players over the last two weeks. Hurley said he didn't do a good job connecting with and giving confidence to bench players like Jaylin Stewart, who had been a big part of UConn's big non-conference wins earlier in the season. Hurley acknowledged he needs to get those bench players more playing time because they are a big reason for UConn's success this year.
Why it matters
Hurley's candid admission and accountability for his coaching mistakes highlights the importance of managing an entire roster, not just the starters, in order to maintain a team's success throughout the season. UConn has been one of the top teams in the country, so Hurley's willingness to self-critique his recent coaching decisions could help the Huskies stay on track for a deep NCAA Tournament run.
The details
In the win over Villanova, UConn's bench combined for 22 points, with nine different Huskies scoring at least four points each. Hurley said he needs to do a better job connecting with and giving confidence to bench players like Jaylin Stewart, who had been a key contributor earlier in the season during UConn's big non-conference wins. Hurley acknowledged he has had a "quick hook" with some bench players when they were struggling, rather than sticking with them, which he believes hurt the team over the last two weeks.
- On Wednesday, UConn lost at home to unranked Creighton 91-84.
- On Saturday, UConn defeated Villanova 73-63 on the road.
The players
Dan Hurley
The head coach of the UConn men's basketball team.
Jaylin Stewart
A UConn bench player who had been a key contributor earlier in the season during UConn's big non-conference wins.
What they’re saying
“I just think I did a bad job with some of these guys. Like, Jaylin Stewart is a heck of a player. When we were winning those big non-conference games [against] Florida, Illinois, and BYU when they were healthy, he was a big part of it. I just did a bad job as a coach of, like, connecting with my player, letting him know that I've got confidence in him.”
— Dan Hurley, UConn Head Coach (profootballnetwork.com)
What’s next
UConn has a home matchup against St. John's on Wednesday, which Hurley says is the most consequential regular-season game left on their schedule. A win would lock up the Big East title for the Huskies.
The takeaway
Hurley's willingness to take accountability for his coaching mistakes and vow to better manage his entire roster, not just the starters, shows his commitment to keeping UConn on track for a deep NCAA Tournament run. His candid self-critique could help the Huskies maintain their status as one of the top teams in the country.
