UConn head coach Dan Hurley has opted to stay in the college ranks, declining a lucrative offer from the Los Angeles Lakers.
Despite the allure of the NBA and a substantial contract, Hurley has chosen to continue his coaching journey with the Huskies in Connecticut.
Hurley’s decision comes after a week of speculation surrounding his potential move to the Lakers.
The 51-year-old coach was reportedly offered a six-year, $70 million deal, which would have made him one of the highest-paid coaches in the NBA.
NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski broke the news on X, revealing Hurley’s rejection of the Lakers’ offer. The decision comes as a blow to the Lakers, who had pursued Hurley vigorously in hopes of securing him as their next head coach.
With Hurley out of the picture, the Lakers will now shift their focus back to their coaching search. The team aims to conduct interviews with potential candidates and finalize a hiring decision ahead of the NBA Draft.
Among the candidates in consideration for the Lakers’ coaching role are James Borrego and JJ Redick. Borrego, currently an assistant coach with the New Orleans Pelicans, is expected to remain part of the interview process. Redick, a former NBA player turned analyst, has also been linked to the Lakers’ coaching vacancy.
According to Wojnarowski, the Lakers hope to have a new head coach before the 2024 NBA Draft, which will take place on June 26.
“He wasn’t ready to go now,” Wojnarowski said, explaining that Hurley liked the offer from the Lakers, but after getting the sense of what being that position entails, he opted to stay put.
Other key factors in Hurley’s decision were geography, having to relocate, the rare opportunity to three-peat with UConn as NCAA champions, adjustment to an NBA environment.
