Dan Hurley is saying Goodbye to Hollywood.
The 51-year-old Jersey City native and former Seton Hall guard spurned LeBron James, Anthony Davis and a six-year, $70-million offer from Los Angeles Lakers in order to remain at UConn and seek a historic three-peat in the 2024-25 season, sources told NJ Advance Media. It was first reported by ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
"Danny was at an incredible career fork in the road this weekend," ESPN's Fran Fraschilla told NJ Advance Media. "Both take him to Shangri-La. The fact that he can use two national titles and interest from the NBA is a boon to UConn's recruiting."
No team in college basketball has three-peated since the days of John Wooden at UCLA -- and now Hurley will try to match that historic achievement.
"We think, top to bottom, this could be our most talented roster," Hurley told reporters last month before Alex Karaban withdrew from the NBA Draft and announced his return.
Hurley's decision is not only huge for UConn but also for the Big East Conference and for college basketball in general. The fiery, passionate and thoughtful Hurley is one of the best, and most recognizable coaches, in the game and brings a lot of national attention to the school, the league and the college game.
"I would love to see him stay in the Big East! He's great for our league!" St. John's coach Rick Pitino Tweeted Monday morning.
Hurley met with Lakers owner Jeanie Buss and President and GM Rob Pelinka over the weekend, but returned home in time to see Billy Joel on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden. Hurley told ESPN that the Lakers made a "compelling case" and presented a "compelling vision" for him, but he also loves the program he's built at Connecticut.
Hurley last summer signed a six-year, $32-million contract and made north of $7 million last season at UConn, including a $2 million bonus,. But one source close to the athletic department said "there's a cap that exists" on how much the Big East school could pay him.
Still, UConn is expected to make Hurley one of the highest-paid coaches in the game along with Bill Self of Kansas and John Calipari of Arkansas. Jeff Goodman reported UConn has a six-year, $50-million offer on the table, which would mean an average annual value of $8.3 million.
"We'll make sure he's the top paid college coach," Connecticut Gov. Net Lamont told reporters Monday. "I think it's not about money for him. He's always wanted to do something in the pros. Going for the 3-peat in UConn is pretty good too."
Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone, who spent two years playing at Seton Hall Prep, said Hurley faced a win-win situation and believed he could handle the transition to the NBA. Perhaps Hurley will wait to see if the Knicks or Nets jobs open down the line.
"I think Danny can do a helluva job coaching in the NBA," Malone told Jim Rome, echoing comments he made to NJ Advance Media in April.
"Coaching is coaching, it's relationships," added Malone, whose team beat the Lakers in five games in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs. "The big differences is in college, Danny is responsible for the players in his program. When you come to the NBA, you're not recruiting, you are coaching the players that are there, that have been drafted, signed, traded for, whatever it may be."
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Malone added that Hurley faced another terrific option in returning to UConn.
"He's got two great options, he can go to the Lakers or he can stay at the powerhouse that he built at UConn," Malone said.
With James set to turn 40 in December, the Lakers are in a win-now mode but face a loaded Western Conference featuring the Nuggets, Dallas Mavericks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves, Houston Rockets and others.
Hurley, who has won 12 straight NCAA Tournament games, would have had to adjust to coaching in the NBA while learning how to lose a certain percentage of games.
One immediate decision the franchise faces is whether to draft or sign Bronny James, LeBron's elder son. Woj suggested one reason the Lakers tabbed Hurley is because of his ability to develop younger players like Bronny. The Lakers also feature Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura and Max Christie.
The Lakers have had seven coaches since Phil Jackson left in 2011 and Woj reported the Lakers are looking for some consistency with their next hire and saw Hurley as someone who could "put a program in place."
"Here's how we do things, here's how we develop players, here's the system we run, Rob Pelinka wants a partner to do that with," Woj said. "He hired Frank Vogel who won a championship, he hired Darvin Ham who got them to the Western Conference Finals, but neither had staying power and I think he sees in Dan Hurley the chance to have that."
Unfortunately for the Lakers, Hurley is staying put in pursuit of a three-peat and and they will have to find someone else to coach the team.
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Adam Zagoria is a freelance reporter who covers Seton Hall and NJ college basketball for NJ Advance Media. You may follow him on Twitter @AdamZagoria and check out his Website at ZAGSBLOG.com.
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