Southington – It was easy to find but not see Dan Hurley prior to the start of the UConn Coaches Road Show panel discussion on Tuesday night.

Find the biggest crowd of Husky fans at the Kinsmen Brewing Company and Hurley was somewhere in the swarm.

Winning a national championship has increased Hurley’s popularity and that of his men’s basketball program.

“When you accomplish something like that, it’s so hard to do,” Hurley said. “UConn makes it look easy, especially the last 30 years in basketball in particular. But it’s not easy to do. Look at the greatest programs in the country and they haven’t had anywhere near our type of success in terms of these types of championships.

“You deserve to enjoy and celebrate it without losing focus on trying to win the next one. … When you win a national championship it changes your life and it changes your career and it changes your confidence in what you do. I’m not a normal person, so, for me, I’ve been on to next year.”

Hurley received the biggest ovation of the night during introductions. The panel also included football coach Jim Mora, women’s basketball associate head coach Chris Dailey, director of track and field and cross country Beth Alford-Sullivan and women’s ice hockey coach Chris MacKenzie.

Dailey has bragging rights as far as winning national championships, doing it 11 times as a member of head coach Geno Auriemma’s staff. But she also had something in common with Hurley, who won his first one in April and the program’s fifth overall..

“I just have to start by saying that Dan and I couldn’t figure out how to turn on the microphone,” said Dailey during the panel discussion. “I don’t know if that’s the kind of leadership that you want in your basketball programs, but I guess we’ve done okay.”

Hurley wasn’t the only coach to get some positive feedback from fans.

Mora received praise for turning the football program around, winning six games after just one victory the year before and earning a bowl bid in his first season in Storrs.

“They’ve always been really enthusiastic and upbeat,” said Mora about UConn fans. “Too many great jobs coming off a 6-6 (regular) season for me. But everyone has always been so supportive and engaged and complimentary, so it makes it fun.”

Mora’s mission is to take the football program to new heights.

He’s seen what winning a national championship can do for the school and men’s basketball program.

He looks forward to getting to know Hurley better.

“I’ve probably gotten to know Geno better than Dan, but I really respect the heck out of Dan,” Mora said. “I love his passion. I love the things that he said tonight. I think he’s got a great perspective.”

If Mora continues to be successful, he’ll become even more popular than he was on Tuesday.

Hurley isn’t letting last season’s success get to his head. Summer team workouts are underway on campus.

“I promise you I’m not going to get lazy after the fifth one,” Hurley told the crowd.

After finishing up talking to the media after the panel discussion, Hurley walked over to greet and talk with more fans.

Hurley will be heading to the NBA Draft on Thursday in Brooklyn and join Jordan Hawkins, a projected first round pick, in the Green Room.

g.keefe@theday.com