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'This was not a money decision'
Dan Hurley passes on the Lakers and will return to UConn. What a win for the school and college hoops. We highlight what it means and the best reaction. Plus, some recruiting news.
Mike Miller
June 11, 2024
Dan Hurley leave UConn? What a silly thought.
Let’s dive in.
1. UConn can breathe again. Hurley stays put.
Dan Hurley’s staying put. Hope UConn fans enjoyed the roughly 5,974 Wolf of Wall Street memes posted on Monday.
UConn’s coach turned down a reported 6-year, $70-million offer from the Los Angeles Lakers, and will return to Storrs for his seventh season. Not that he’ll be much poorer for it.
Per Jeff Goodman, UConn will give Hurley a 6-year, $50-million contract that’ll place him just behind Bill Self and John Calipari as college basketball’s highest-paid coaches. (I’m sure free wings for life also sweetened the pot.) And that quest for an historic third consecutive national title?
It’s on. But it was a tough decision. Again, from Goodman:
“According to my sources, [Hurley] flipped his decision. He may have flipped a couple of times. He has wrestled with this decision since Wednesday. This was not an easy decision. And this was not a money decision.”
That makes sense. After all, Hurley already turned down Kentucky when it backed up the $100M Brinks truck earlier this spring. He did the same with the Lakers just weeks later. It’s almost like the thing he wants most of all is titles. Lots of them. He’s not just sitting around, enjoying those two titles.
Update: Our 2:00 p.m. practice is underway.
— UConn Men's Basketball (@UConnMBB)
6:00 PM • Jun 10, 2024
Was a it a surprise that UConn is once again the betting favorite to cut down the nets in 2025? Nah.
“I am humbled by this entire experience,” Hurley said in a statement. “At the end of the day, I am extremely proud of the championship culture we have built at Connecticut. We met as a team before today’s workout and our focus right now is on getting better this summer and connecting as a team as we continue to pursue championships.”
Hey, maybe it was all a ruse designed to push JJ Redick to a decision. Even if that’s the case, there’s no denying that UConn can rightfully celebrate today.
The Huskies kept their coach. Their program’s in great shape. May as well enjoy it.
2. So, I guess college basketball is alive and well?
The Lakers must be huge fans of college basketball. How else to explain their work boosting the sport?