UConn men hire new assistant from Big East rival

Dan Hurley has found a new assistant coach for the UConn men’s basketball program.

Mike Pegues, who spent the last four years as an assistant for Thad Matta at Butler, was hired to fill the position previously occupied by Luke Murray, who took the head coaching job at Boston College this spring.

UConn also announced the hiring of Naugatuck native Justin McClelland, who will take over as director of men’s basketball strength and conditioning following Gavin Roberts’ departure to Oklahoma State.

Hurley took his time before landing on Pegues, who spent three seasons on Chris Mack’s staff at Louisville alongside Murray ahead of his last stint with the Bulldogs. He stayed with the Cardinals for the 2021-22 season, after Murray moved on to UConn, and filled in as interim head coach after Mack was fired midway through the year.

“Excited to add a coach of Mike’s caliber to our organization,” Hurley said in a release. “He has proven throughout his career to be an excellent coach and a tireless recruiter. His ability to help develop our big men and his high-major experience, especially in the BIG EAST, will be huge for us. Mike is a well-respected figure in basketball circles who has succeeded at a high level for a long time.”

A former Washington D.C. high school standout at powerhouse DeMatha Catholic, Pegues played for Hall of Fame coach Morgan Wootten and went to Delaware before his short professional career, which included time overseas and with the Connecticut Pride of the CBA. A knee injury led him to coaching, which he began at Friendship Collegiate Academy in D.C., where, similar to Hurley’s start, he was also teaching. He went on to Bishop O’Connell High and was an assistant under Wootten’s son, Joe, before taking his first college job as a video coordinator at VCU for the 2009-10 season.

Pegues returned to his alma mater as an assistant under Delaware head coach Monté Ross before joining Mack at Xavier, where he spent six seasons before following Mack to Louisville. He went to Butler and spent the last four years on staff as an assistant until Matta retired and was replaced by Ronald Nored this offseason.

With his DMV recruiting ties and experience coaching big men, Pegues is a strong fit for the role previously held by Murray on staff with associate head coach Kimani Young and assistant Mike Nardi, who came on from Villanova last summer.

UConn underwent significant changes in its frontcourt this offseason with Alex Karaban and Tarris Reed Jr. leaving for the NBA, and Eric Reibe and Jaylin Stewart entering the transfer portal. The Huskies added Najai Hines and Oskar Giltay to man the center position, along with Nik Khamenia to play the four. They are still looking to add a backup four out of the portal.

McClelland’s previous stops include Villanova, Clemson, East Carolina and Florida. He attended West Woods Christian Academy in Hamden before playing basketball and earning an exercise science degree at Eastern University in St. Davids, Pa.

“We’re confident that Justin will carry the championship-level expectations we have in all aspects of our program to our strength and conditioning unit,” Hurley said. “His experience preparing athletes at the highest level in the best leagues in the country will have a huge impact in ensuring our guys are physically and mentally ready to continue to compete for titles.”