Bob Hurley Sr. admits that he has no hobbies. For the legendary coach of the St.AnthonyHigh School in Jersey City boys basketball team, spare time spent running clinics is his way of relaxing.
Above St. Anthony’s High School (Jersey City) boys basketball coach Bob Hurley watches Bayville’s Michael Nicolosi, 13, complete a skill drill during the Bob Hurley Basketball Clinic at the Ocean Sports Academy, Ocean Township, on April 20. Below: Hurley shows clinic participants how to shoot the ball properly. Hurley has won over 900 games as a coach, to go along with 25 state titles and 10 Meet of Champions crowns. “I enjoy those three hours,” he explained.
Sunday, the coach of the 2008 national champion Friars was at the Ocean Sports Academy doing what he likes to do most: teaching young players ages 6-14 the fundamentals of basketball.
For thosewho only seeHurley as the disciplinarian taskmaster on the bench at St. Anthony games, he reveals another side of himself at these clinics. The object, after all, is tomake basketball fun, and he produces a friendly climate at these clinics.
PHOTOS BY CHRIS KELLY staff Hurley knows full well that basketball skills are honed individually, demanding hours and hours of practice time alone in gyms, backyards and asphalt city courts. One of things he likes to do is provide players with workout programs that will make their solo workouts productive.
“I like to give the kids some fundamentals and help them organize practices on their own, give them drills they can do for themselves dribbling, shooting and agility,” he pointed out.
Hurley, whose Friars extended their NJSIAAMeet of Champions record to 10 titles this winter, said he likes to tell the youngsters stories about basketball stars who weren’t always stars. He uses Steve Nash and two all-time greats, Bill Russell and Michael Jordan, who were cut from their high school teams as underclassmen, as examples for motivation.
“I want a kid to look at that and say, ‘That could beme,’ ” he said. “You don’t have to be a star right now.”
A couple of hours with Hurley may not make a youngster a star, but itwill certainly help make them a better player.
For the Hurley family, 2007-08 was unmatched, which, of course, is saying a lot. Hurley’s St.Anthony team finished the season with a perfect 32-0 record and won their national record 25th state title and record-extending 10th MOC crown. The Friars were ranked No. 1 in the country bringing the school its third national championship.
They trailed just one time in the second half of a game all season and, that was briefly.
“We liked the kids last year,”Hurley said. “We didn’t look like a good team against St. Patrick’s (in the ’07 state sectional final) and needed to get over the hurdle.”
The Friars cleared that hurdle beating St. Pat’s in their sectional showdown this year. Fromthere, theymarched to their 25th state title and eventually theMOC.
Hurley is proudest, though, of having six seniors who will be going to play Division I college basketball and a seventhwhomay be earning a scholarship to aDivision II school. The scholarships mean that the players did theirwork in the classroomaswell as on the hardwood.
As if all these championships weren’t enough, the No. 2 team in the state and the country was St. Benedict’s Prep coached by none other than DanHurley, Bob’s son.As a prep school, St.Benedict’s is not amember of theNJSIAA, spoiling any opportunity for father and son to coach against each other. It didn’t matter much.What father/son combo could be the coaches of theNo. 1 and 2 teams in the country other than Bob and Dan?
“This season was unbelievable,” said the elderHurley. “Wewere kind ofwatching him [Dan’s St. Benedict’s] all year.”
Hurley said that one by one, the teams ranked ahead of St.Anthony fell during the season, including St. Benedict’s, paving the way for his undefeated Friars to lay claimto the national title.
Hurley noted that the St. Anthony and St. Benedict’s players worked out together, and that it helped his team during its state playoff run.
Dan Hurley has followed in his father’s footsteps as not only a successful scholastic coach but someone who gives back, running his own clinics. He’ll be at the Ocean Sports Academy on Sunday for a clinic fromnoon to 3 p.m. and return in June for a weeklong camp running 1-4 p.m. the 16th to the 20th.
Those interested can call the Ocean SportsAcademy at (732) 493-4500 or visit its website at www.osanj.com.