St. Anthony coach Bob Hurley and Rutgers women’s coach C. Vivian Stringer were both nominated for the Naismith Hall of Fame on Friday.
Oh, and a guy named Mike was also among the 16 finalists announced.
Michael Jordan, John Stockton and David Robinson headlined the class.
NBA coaches Don Nelson and Jerry Sloan, former NBA stars Dennis Johnson, Chris Mullin and Bernard King, and two-time WNBA MVP Cynthia Cooper were also nominated. The results will be announced April 6 at the Final Four in Detroit.
Only one person who coached exclusively at the high level, former DeMatha (Md.) High coach Morgan Wootten, is in the Hall.
“It would be the pinnacle of my coaching career if that happened,” said the 61-year-old Hurley, who has led St. Anthony to 23 state championships and 10 New Jersey Tournament of Champions titles and was featured in the book “The Miracle of St. Anthony.” “I’m loving going to practice. Coaching games has nothing to do with any individual aspirations anybody has. We just love to do this.”
Dan Hurley, Bob’s younger son and the coach of St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark, said he believed his father deserves to be in the Hall.
“I would think so. He’s an iconic figure,” Dan said after his Gray Bees beat Marietta (Ga.) Wheeler 77-67. “He’s a coach’s coach. If anyone is deserving, it’s him. The time that he’s spent coaching kids and helping kids, I would think that the Hall of Fame would be proud to induct him
“He’s given his life not just to a coaching career, but to coaching. A lot of guys give their life to a coaching career where they can make the most money and get the best most high-paying job, as opposed to a coaching career. I would think that would be worth a couple of votes.”
Stringer is the only women’s coach to lead three different programs to the Final Four — Cheyney State, Iowa and Rutgers.
TRISTAN THOMPSON TO FINDLAY PREP
Tristan Thompson, the 6-foot-8 Texas-bound junior forward, who was kicked off the St. Benedict’s team earlier this week by Dan Hurley for “public insubordination,” will play next year for Findlay (Nev.) Prep.
The good news for St. Benedict’s is that Texas-bound sophomore point guard Myck Kabongo will remain in Newark, according to Grassroots Canada coach Ro Russell.
“Tristan is going to Findlay Prep and will be there next year as well,” Russell said. “Myck will remain at St. Benedict’s and stick it out.”
(Photos courtesy Richard Orr, Mike Scanlan)
