Coaching legend inducted into Hall of Fame

Jersey City and the Pocono Mountains share very few attributes. For the past 17 years, one of these has been Coach Bob Hurley. The famed leader of Saint Anthony High School's Friarswhose 39-year career has earned him 25 state championshipshas been running his own basketball camp in Stroudsburg since 1993, and this summer's session holds a new distinction: it coincides with his induction into the Nasmith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

"When I first got the phone call, I was giddy," Hurley said, while sitting in the gym of Hoop Group Skills Camp. "I wanted to tell everyone I encountered over the next couple of days that I was going to be inducted into the Hall of Fame."

Hurley learned of his selection on March 31, the Wednesday before the start of the Final Four division of the NCAA College Basketball Tournament. Although notified of his nomination to the selection process weeks before, Hurley didn't place too much faith in his being inducted.

"I've been nominated twice before," he said, "and both times got a call saying 'Sorry, other people have been selected.' This year, I decided not to get too emotionally involved in my nomination."

Resigning to this cynicism, Hurley scheduled a basketball clinic in Ireland during the time of the Hall of Fame's induction ceremonies. Ultimately, this clinic was postponed when the seasoned coach received his fateful call.

"The people in Ireland were very accommodating," Hurley said. "If you need a reason to be late for something, there isn't one much better than this."

Along with his fellow 2010 class of inductees, which include the 1992 Olympic "Dream Team", as well as Karl Malone and Scottie Pippen, Hurley was made a guest of honor at the Final Four championship game between Duke University and Butler University in Indiana.

"We were brought out on the court during halftime and given a standing ovation," Hurley said. "It was totally surreal, standing there in front of 10,000 fans."

The Hall of Fame's official induction ceremonies will take place over a three-day period, August 12-14. A series of celebratory events will be held at the Hall's main location in Springfield, Mass. and the Mohegian Sun casino in Connecticut. Duke University's equally-notable coach Mike Krzyzewski will serve as Hurley's inductor.

But Hurley won't have much time to rest on his laurels. After all, he's due back in Stroudsburg on August 15 for the start of the second session of Bob Hurley Basketball School.

"When the ceremony is all said and done, I go to back to harsh reality as the nine- and ten-year olds arrive," Hurley said.

Nestled in Monroe County's Cherry Valley region, the aforementioned Hoop Group Skills Camp has been a haven for basketball enthusiasts for close to 50 years. Over the years, it has featured specialized weeks of instruction hosted by the likes of former NBA players Stephon Marbury and Jay Williams, as well as coaching legends including Kevin Boyle of the Saint Patrick High School Celtics, Hurley's most heated rival.

As Hurley's first week of camp was winding down June 30, he expressed nothing but satisfaction in its progress.

"Everyone's working hard, day in and day out," he said. "This group of kids has shown a lot of motivation and dedication to improving their basketball skills."

The players attending Hurley's camp range from 4th graders to seniors in high school. Members of his Saint Anthony's squad also participate in the training sessions.

"It's a great week for the kids," Hurley said. "They get to go away to camp early in the summer and have the chance to work on what they learn here during the rest of their time off."

"By the time they get back to school in the fall, they've had three solid months of work. There's no better feeling for a player to hear his coach tell him he's gotten better and see his hard work pay off."

Speaking of hard work, is Hurley satisfied, now that he's reached what is arguably the highest milestone for any basketball coach?

Not a chance.

"There's one thing left: winning 1,000 games," Hurley said. "I've got 984 wins under my belt, and we have a really great team this year, so I have a good shot."

Despite his tenacity, Hurley is still awed at being elected to the Hall of Fame.

"For a basketball person, this is a huge honor," he said. "It's like a kid going to Disney World for vacation."