NEWSLETTER
As they say, home is where the heart is!
The long-anticipated decision from UConn head coach Dan Hurley has arrived – the Huskies coach turned down a six-year, $70 million off from the Lakers and will pursue a third straight National Championship in Storrs, CT. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported this morning that Hurley was ‘swept away’ by the Lakers pitch but ultimately couldn’t turn down the chance to chase a three-peat.
Fallout From Dan Hurley’s Decision To Stay At UConn
Prior to the negotiations with Los Angeles, Hurley had already been in talks regarding a new deal with UConn. Wojnarowski reports that those talks will move on and that Hurley will end up being one of the highest-paid coaches in college basketball if an agreement is reached. Given Hurley’s decision to stay, it feels like a formality that a new deal with the Huskies will happen soon.
While Hurley is undoubtedly a great basketball mind, the fit always seemed to be a tricky one. Hurley is known for his fiery demeanor on the sidelines and in practice, and that’s not one that necessarily translates to the NBA all of the time, especially when that team is a veteran team led by LeBron James who is the defacto boss.
Would he have worked out there? Maybe. But I think unless the fit was totally perfect, Hurley is probably making the right choice. The NBA will still be there down the line, and at some point, a job that fits him will arise. Plus, the UConn head coach is very much an East Coast guy, and it felt like a move to LA would be a long shot.
As for the Lakers, Woj reports they’ll go back to the drawing board. He reported that LA will go back to interviewing candidates with hopes of having their new head coach before the NBA Draft at the end of June. Pelicans assistant James Borrego and NBA Analyst JJ Redick are expected to be among the group of candidates considered.
Last week it was NBA Insider Shams Charania of The Athletic that reported Los Angeles was ‘zeroing in’ on Redick as their top candidate. Clearly there was interest in Hurley as that process got as far as it did, but now with Hurley back at Connecticut I would expect Redick to again be the top candidate. Redick is currently on the call for the NBA Finals with ESPN and ABC, so I wouldn’t expect any decisions to be made or at least announced until after the series concludes.
