Hurley rejects Lakers’ offer, to stick with UConn
Jun 10, 2024, 01:42 PM ET Dan Hurley has actually rejected a six-year, $70 million deal from the Los Angeles Lakers, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, and will go back to chase after a third straight national title at UConn.
“I am humbled by this entire experience,” Hurley stated in a declaration launched by the school. “At the end of the day, I am exceptionally happy with the champion culture we have actually built at Connecticut. We fulfilled as a group before today’s workout and our focus today is getting better this summer season and linking as a team as we continue to pursue championships.”
The Lakers would have made Hurley among the NBA’s 6 highest-paid coaches. But before opening talks with the Lakers, Hurley already had an offer from UConn to become one of the greatest paid NCAA coaches, and those talks will continue, sources informed Wojnarowski.Gov.
Ned Lamont, who touched with Hurley throughout the weekend, told reporters Monday that the state will “make sure he’s the top paid college coach.”
Hurley signed a six-year, $32.1 million handle UConn after the 2022-23 season. He had the alternative of taking control of one of the most well known franchises in professional sports and a prospective chance to coach NBA all-time scoring leader LeBron James.Editor’s Picks 2 Associated However Hurley eventually picked to stay at UConn, which has actually gone 68-11 over the previous 2 title-winning seasons and will try to become the 2nd program to win three straight males’s national titles. UCLA, the only men’s program with a better record, won seven NCAA champions in a row from 1967 through 1973. UConn verified Hurley’s choice with a statement from athletic director David Benedict, who said the school is “thrilled”that its coach is sitting tight.”He has helped return our men’s basketball program back to the pinnacle of the sport, consisting of back-to-back NCAA Championships, and we’re grateful for his commitment to UConn,”Benedict stated.”We look forward to Dan’s continued management on and off the court at UConn. He will continue to bring terrific pride to Husky fans all over as we work toward a three-peat.”Lamont also participated in the celebration of the news on social media.Our MVP Coach is staying in CT. Now let’s prepare yourself for a # 3peat, due to the fact that Connecticut knows champions are developed here! #UConnNation https://t.co/KY3tDcJmoX!.?.!— Governor Ned Lamont(@GovNedLamont)June 10, 2024 Hurley informed Wojnarowski on Sunday that the Lakers made a”engaging case “and provided a “engaging vision”for him to become their next coach, however that he enjoys what he has actually constructed with the two-time protecting national champion Huskies.Hurley also told Wojnarowski that he left”exceptionally amazed”
with Lakers VP and GM Rob Pelinka and owner Jeanie Buss and had spent Sunday weighing their offer.After a dogged pursuit of Hurley over the previous weeks, the Lakers will regroup and resume bringing in prospects for interviews with hope of hiring a coach by
the NBA draft later this month, sources informed Wojnarowski.New Orleans Pelicans assistant James Borrego is anticipated to stay among Los Angeles’prospects, and the Lakers could perform their very first official interview with JJ Redick, who also has actually been connected to the job.The Lakers ‘stopped working pursuit of Hurley came twenty years after they likewise attempted to work with Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski to a record-breaking contract in 2004. Krzyzewski ultimately
chose to stay at Duke.After historically dominant back-to-back nationwide title seasons, Hurley has become the most coveted coach in the sport after constructing a juggernaut that lapped college basketball– culminating in the NCAA’s very first repeat champ in 17 years and a tournament performance that produced the greatest point differential in tournament history– 140 points.The possibility of UConn winning a 3rd straight title is present with
the return of a preseason top-5 group, however the Huskies did lose 2 probable lottery game choices(center Donovan Clingan and guard Stephon Castle )and a first-team All-America point player(Tristen Newton)to the NBA draft.Hurley is 141-58 in his six seasons at UConn and 292-163 general in 14 seasons as a college coach– including his years at Wagner and Rhode Island. He’s gone through 4
losing seasons in that span; his first year at Wagner, his first two at Rhode Island and his first year at UConn.The Lakers fired coach Darvin Ham after a first-round exit in the Western Conference playoffs. Ham was 94-70 in two seasons, consisting of a trip to the Western Conference finals in 2023. The Associated Press contributed to this report.