[1] After compiling a 111–70 record in eight seasons[6] at Punxsutawney High School, Daly moved on to the college level in 1963 as an assistant coach under Vic Bubas at Duke University.

During his six seasons at Duke, the Blue Devils won the Atlantic Coast Conference championship and advanced to the Final Four, both in 1964 and 1966.

Penn won 20 or more games and captured the Ivy League title in each of its first four seasons with Daly at the helm.

While serving as the Pistons coach, Daly was also a color commentator for TBS's NBA Playoff coverage.

Daly was named head coach of the U.S. Dream Team that won the gold medal at the 1992 Olympics,[3] before moving his NBA career onto the New Jersey Nets for the 1992–93 season.

Daly stayed with the Nets for two seasons, before resigning over frustration over the immaturity of some of the players on his team.