After hypothesis a few transfer to the NBA, Dan Hurley is staying at UConn.
Hurley, who’s coming off back-to-back NCAA championships with UConn, is popping down a serious payday from the Los Angeles Lakers to stick with the Huskies, per a number of experiences.
Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Hurley turned down a six-year, $70 million supply in favor of chasing a 3rd straight NCAA title with UConn. The deal would have made Hurley one of many prime six highest-paid coaches within the NBA if he had accepted, per Wojnarowski.
BREAKING: Connecticut’s Dan Hurley has turned down the Los Angeles Lakers’ six-year, $70 million supply and can return to chase a 3rd straight nationwide title, sources inform ESPN. LA would’ve made him one in all NBA’s six highest paid coaches. pic.twitter.com/hEXo3o00SR
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 10, 2024
UConn Males’s Basketball posted a statement on behalf of Hurley Monday, confirming that he meant to remain to pursue extra championships with the group.
“I’m humbled by this whole expertise. On the finish of the day, I’m extraordinarily happy with the championship tradition we’ve got constructed at Connecticut,” Hurley mentioned. “Our focus proper now’s getting higher this summer time and connecting as a group as we proceed to pursue championships.”
The choice comes after experiences final week that the Lakers have been excited about pursuing Hurley for the job, with ESPN reporting that the Lakers have been getting ready an enormous contract that may hold Hurley in Los Angeles long-term. The Lakers fired Darvin Ham in Might after simply two seasons with the group and sought Hurley as a alternative within the hopes of a deep playoff run subsequent season.
Hurley reportedly traveled to L.A. on Thursday and met with the Lakers on Friday to debate a possible deal earlier than returning to the East Coast on Saturday.
In weighing each side, Hurley informed ESPN that the Lakers made a “compelling case” and introduced a “compelling imaginative and prescient,” however that he’s additionally happy with what he is constructed with the Huskies.
Per Wojnarowski, the Lakers now intention to interview different candidates with the hopes of hiring a brand new coach earlier than the NBA Draft on June 26.
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After stints at Wagner and Rhode Island, Hurley has thrived at UConn, particularly prior to now couple of years. Beneath Hurley’s purview, the Huskies rolled to an sudden championship run in 2023 earlier than dominating the 2023-2024 season. This previous 12 months, Hurley led the Huskies to a Large East common season title and Large East event title earlier than easing by way of the NCAA event — a development that led him incomes 2024 Naismith Coach of the Yr.
Hurley has posted a 141-58 document in six seasons with UConn and is 292-163 general as a head coach.