Dan Hurley, the men’s basketball coach at the University of Connecticut (UConn), has announced that he will not be leaving his position to join the NBA. Despite being offered a lucrative six-year, $70 million contract by the Los Angeles Lakers, Hurley has decided to remain in Storrs, Conn. and continue his pursuit of a third consecutive national championship with the UConn Huskies.
In a statement released on Monday, Hurley expressed his gratitude for the opportunity and his pride in the championship culture he has helped build at UConn. He emphasized the team’s focus on improving over the summer and strengthening their bond as they strive for further success.
Hurley’s decision to turn down the NBA offer was met with appreciation and support from UConn’s Men’s Basketball, who shared his statement on X (formerly known as Twitter).
According to reports, Dan Hurley met with the Lakers’ front office over the weekend to hear their pitch. Although he found their vision compelling, it wasn’t enough for him to leave what he has built in Storrs. After winning consecutive national titles, the Huskies now have their sights set on becoming only the second program in history, alongside UCLA, to win three in a row.
UConn showed their commitment to Hurley by signing him to a six-year, $32.1 million extension after the 2022-23 season. While this is significantly less than what he could have earned in Los Angeles, there may be the potential for a new deal in the future following his decision to stay at the university.