UConn head coach Dan Hurley has worn a lucky beaded bracelet throughout his entire coaching career, spanning over 20 years, including his time coaching high school basketball. But the bracelet almost didn’t make it to the team’s Final Four game against Illinois.
Hurley realized the bracelet was missing about 12 minutes before tip-off and admitted he was freaking out. His assistant coach, Luke Murray, reached out to his wife, Andrea, who was already inside the arena when she got the call.
According to People, Andrea explained on Instagram Stories that her main task that day was to fix the bracelet using extra beads she had brought to Indianapolis. What followed was a chaotic race against the clock to get it done in time.
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The bracelet rescue mission turned into a wild, rain-soaked rush to save the coach’s 20-year superstition
Andrea had to leave the arena first, and since she had no ticket to get back in, she had to find an unused one. She then traveled to the hotel to pick up the extra beads, all while navigating through rain. She even received a police escort back to the arena so she could return while the game was already underway.
She was watching the game on television at the hotel while rushing to gather the supplies. Dan later noted that he was down by one point when the bracelet finally arrived at the court. The effort paid off. UConn beat Illinois 71-62 and advanced to the national championship game.
However, the superstition didn’t carry the team all the way. UConn faced the University of Michigan in the national championship game on April 6 and lost 63-69. Dan was gracious about the result, saying Michigan was the clear best team of the year and fully deserved the title. Sports media has also had its share of off-field drama lately, including how The Athletic handled a reporter’s disputed story.
Despite the tough end to the season, the bracelet story stands out as a reminder of the personal routines and intense pressure that come with coaching at the highest level of college basketball. Sports can bring out some truly unexpected moments off the court, much like how a high school baseball bullying scandal recently escalated into a criminal investigation.
Published: Apr 13, 2026 01:45 pm