For the head coach of the UConn basketball program, making it to the 2026 NCAA March Madness Championship Game wasn’t his only concern as the Huskies playing in the Final Four round on April 4, 2026. Instead, his focus was also on his missing bracelet ahed of the tip off.
When Dan Hurley realized this his lucky charm – literally – was missing from his wrist, his wife, Andrea Hurley, went back to their hotel to retrieve it. But in order to make it back to the arena for the start of the game, the bracelet required a police escort to make it through traffic. Now, Dan and Andrea Hurley have taken to Andrea’s Instagram account to post a collection of IG stories addressing the situation.
Dan Hurley Has Worn the Same Bracelet During Every Game He Has Ever Coached (From High School to UConn)
GettyWASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 29: Head coach Dan Hurley of the UConn Huskies looks on during the first half of a game against the Duke Blue Devils in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
In an interview following the team’s March Madness success, UConn head coach Dan Hurley opened up about his dedication to wearing the same bracelet during every single basketball game he coaches – win or lose. Asked if he’s superstitious, Hurley responds that the bracelet is a non-negotiable for him and that it must be on his wrist whenever a matchup unfolds.
On her Instagram, Dan and Andrea Hurley opened up on Monday, April 6, 2026 about the circumstances that arose just moments before UConn’s Final Four game start two days prior.
“Should I tell them about the beads?” asks Angela on the clip to an off-screen Dan Hurley. “Um, okay, so I got to the arena… my one job was to fix [Dan’s] lucky Jesus bead bracelet.” At which point, Dan chimes in, saying, “Right before the game was about to start… I’ve worn these beads every game I’ve ever coached my whole career. And I noticed like about 12 minutes before the game was about to start, that I had no beads.”
“You know how the beads got there?” says Angela. “I actually was going to my seat, and I had to leave the arena, get somebody to send me an unused ticket… drove me to the hotel, where I had to grab the beads, and then I actually have extra beads to like restring them. And then we got a police escort back to the arena to the get the beads to the arena because the game started.”
When Dan reacted to Angela’s revelation with a surprised, “What?!” his wife responded with a reciprocal, “I know, it’s insane.”
Here’s hoping that those beads are worth it and truly do hold all of UConn’s good luck – but if the beads fail, then the Huskies can trust in the pure talent and charisma of their roster. With players like standout freshman Braylon Mullins, they’re an even contest against Michigan in tonight’s NCAA March Madness Championship Game.
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