UConn Basketball

UConn and men's basketball head coach Dan Hurley have agreed to a new six-year, $50 million contract.

The contract will keep Hurley in Storrs through the 2029-30 season, according to a press release.

Hurley will receive a base salary of $400,000, plus $6.375 million in additional compensation, for the 2024-25 season.

That salary will escalate each year throughout the contract. Hurley will also receive a $1 million annual retention bonus.

The new contract represents a raise from the six-year, $32.1 million deal the 51-year-old signed last year.

Last month, the Los Angeles Lakers offered Hurley a six-year, $70 million contract to leave the Huskies, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported.

Hurley rejected the offer, which would have made him one of the highest-paid coaches in the NBA, in order to seek a third straight title with UConn.

The contract provides Hurley with the opportunity to earn higher compensation through "performance-based incentives," the school stated.

The additional $6 million Hurley is already set to make next season is due to "speaking, consulting and media obligations," UConn stated.

Hurley's raise will be funded by donations and ticket revenue, UConn said.

The contract makes Hurley the second-highest paid coach in men's college basketball behind only Kansas' Bill Self, who inked his own five-year, $53 million deal in November.

The deal is worth less than both the offer Hurley reportedly received from the Lakers, as well as what he was reportedly offered by Kentucky.

Evan Sidery of Forbes reported that the Jayhawks offered Hurley $11 million per year to replace John Calipari.

The Lakers were meanwhile willing to pay him $11.6 million per year, which even with California's high income tax rate would be worth more than his take-home pay in Storrs (h/t On3's Alex Weber and Forbes.)

But Hurley could be set to increase his salary with a third title. Even with stars like Donovan Clingan headed out of Storrs, the Huskies coach may be heading into the 2024-25 season confident that he is set to hit his performance-based incentive targets after the team's 37-3 campaign last season.

Hurley will begin his seventh season with Connecticut with a 141-58 record as head coach. He holds an overall record of 292-163, including a 14-4 mark in the NCAA tournament, through 15 seasons as a college coach for Wagner, Rhode Island and Connecticut.

University of Connecticut head men's basketball coach Dan Hurley shot down the notion that he used his negotiations with the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers to get a better contract to stay at UConn.

During an appearance Thursday on the Dan LeBatard Show (h/t Joe Arruda of the Hartford Courant), Hurley made it clear that his talks with the Lakers had nothing to do with trying to gain additional leverage at UConn: "One of the worst takes I've heard is [that] this was a leverage play by me to improve my situation at UConn. Like, I don't need leverage here. We've won back-to-back national championships at this place."

Hurley announced Monday that he is staying in the college ranks at UConn, turning down a six-year, $70 million offer from the Lakers, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

The expectation was that Hurley would sign a new contract at UConn to become one of the highest-paid coaches in college basketball, and while it isn't known to be official yet, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont said this week that the deal is "very close to the finish line," according to Mike Anthony of CT Insider.

Following stints as the head coach at Wagner and Rhode Island, UConn hired Hurley in 2018, and it didn't take him long to turn the program back into a championship contender.

The Huskies have made four consecutive trips to the NCAA tournament, and in each of the past two seasons, they won over 30 games, as well as the national title.

UConn became the first school to win back-to-back national championships in Division I men's college basketball since Florida achieved the feat in 2006 and 2007.

If UConn can win a third national title in a row, it will be the first team to do so since UCLA won seven straight from 1967 to 1973.

That won't be easy to accomplish given that the Huskies are losing several key players to the NBA like Donovan Clingan, Stephon Castle, Tristen Newton and Cam Spencer.

Had Hurley gone to the NBA to coach the Lakers, he would have instantly found himself leading a championship contender headlined by LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

L.A. fell to the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs this season, but they reached the Western Conference Finals the previous year, and they are always a threat to go the distance with LeBron and AD in the fold.

Per Wojnarowski, Hurley said he was "extremely impressed" with the Lakers and felt they made a "compelling case," but it wasn't enough to pry him away.

With Hurley returning to UConn, the Lakers' head coaching search continues with former NBA guard JJ Redick appearing to be the front-runner despite his lack of previous coaching experience.

Dan Hurley turned down the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday, instead choosing to return to UConn and chase a third straight title with the men's basketball team.

"I am humbled by this entire experience," he 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."

The Lakers reportedly offered Hurley a six-year, $70 million deal, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, which would have made him one of the sixth-highest-paid coaches in the NBA.

Still, given how the market has shifted, some folks believed it was actually a lower offer than realistically would have ever pried Hurley away from Storrs:

Money likely won't be an issue for Hurley at UConn, however, with Woj reporting that "even before [the] Lakers talks, Hurley already had a UConn offer to become one of highest paid NCAA coaches and those talks will continue, per sources."

Wojnarowski added that the Lakers will now "regroup and resume bringing in candidates for interviews with the hope of hiring a coach by [the] draft, sources said. James Borrego is expected to remain [a] part of [the] group and [the] Lakers could do their first formal interview with JJ Redick."

Hurley, 51, has gone 141-58 in his six seasons with the Huskies, leading the team to four straight NCAA tournaments and two straight national championships.

UConn's run to the 2023-24 title was one of the most dominant in NCAA men's basketball history, as the team finished 37-3 on the season and won every tournament game by at least 14 points.

Hurley chose to continue building his dynasty overtaking one of the highest-profile coaching gigs in all of sports. It's a setback for the Lakers, but an excellent day for UConn.

Dan Hurley is reportedly staying with UConn after rejecting the Los Angeles Lakers' offer to replace Darvin Ham as head coach.

Hurley, who has been with the Huskies since 2018, is fresh off his second consecutive NCAA championship and "couldn't walk away" from the opportunity to lead UConn to a third, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported.

After the rumors of Hurley's return, a handful of current Huskies expressed their excitement about having their coach back.

A former player, Rip Hamilton, and assistant coach Luke Murray also chimed in.

Hurley reportedly turned down a sizeable offer, as Wojnarowski reported the Lakers were prepared to give him a six-year, $70 million contract that would have made him one of the highest-paid coaches in the NBA.

But UConn came with a sizeable offer to keep him with the Huskies. The Field of 68's Jeff Goodman reported that UConn gave Hurley a six-year deal worth around $50 million.

While his contract to remain with UConn isn't as lucrative as the Lakers' deal would have been, Hurley has the chance to make history and become the first head coach to win three consecutive championships since UCLA's John Wooden won seven straight from 1967 to 1973.

Hurley will have to navigate the 2024-25 season without star players Donovan Clingan and Stephon Castle—both of whom are projected to be top-10 picks in the NBA draft by Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman—but the Huskies still have a talented roster heading into the year.

Highlighting that roster is Alex Karaban, who pulled out of the NBA draft to return to UConn. Karaban averaged 13.3 points and 5.1 rebounds per game last season and is looking to lead the Huskies to glory again this season.

Joining Karaban is Tarris Reed Jr., a transfer from Michigan, and Liam McNeeley, a 5-star prospect and the No. 17 player in the nation according to 247Sports Composite.

It's safe to say those three are happy to have Hurley coming back to UConn, and they'll look to reward his decision with a championship.

After turning down an offer from the Los Angeles Lakers, UConn head coach Dan Hurley will never go hungry in the state of Connecticut again.

J. Timothy's Taverne in Plainville, Connecticut, took to social media to let Hurley know that he can pop in at any time for free wings for life:

J. Timothy's Taverne proclaims itself to be the creator of "dirt wings," which are double-fried and double-sauced to create more crispiness and caramelization. Hurley will have his choice of five different delicious wing flavors at his disposal whenever he has a craving.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Hurley rejected a six-year, $70 million offer from the Lakers to pursue a third straight national championship with the Huskies. The contract reportedly would've made Hurley one of the six highest-paid coaches in the NBA.

Wojnarowski further explained that despite being "swept away" by "the Lakers courtship and vision for him," Hurley "ultimately couldn't walk away from a chance to make history and pursue a third straight NCAA title." The 51-year-old is reportedly engaged in contract talks with UConn that "will continue."

Jeff Goodman of the Field of 68 added that Hurley has been offered a six-year, $50 million extension from UConn, but it is currently "on the table" as negotiations are ongoing.

However, the one thing for certain is that none of the cash Hurley receives in his upcoming deal will have to go toward the wings at J. Timothy Taverne.

UConn head coach Dan Hurley reportedly has an extension offer on the table from the school after he turned down an opportunity to coach the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday.

According to Jeff Goodman of the Field of 68, Hurley currently has the option to accept a six-year deal worth $50 million with the Huskies after walking away from a six-year contract worth $70 million from the Lakers.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Hurley "couldn't walk away from" an opportunity to potentially secure a third consecutive NCAA title with the Huskies.

After the Lakers fired former head coach Darvin Ham on May 3, they've reportedly been interested in several candidates. ESPN analyst JJ Redick and New Orleans Pelicans associate head coach James Borrego have both been listed as possible options.

However, Wojnarowski revealed that Hurley had been at the "forefront" of the team's search for a new head coach "from the beginning of the process."

While his extension offer from UConn is less than the Lakers' contract proposal, he has made it clear in the past that money isn't the only determining factor when it comes to his career choices.

"I've got a long career of turning down jobs or more money to stay in places that I was happy and fit me," he said during an April 10 appearance on The Herd with Colin Cowherd.

Goodman also noted that the $50 million offer from UConn is "on the table," and Hurley has not accepted it yet. Wojnarowksi reported that extension talks between both sides "will continue" after he rejected Los Angeles' offer on Monday, which could result in an increase of the value of a possible extension after the Lakers' contract details were revealed.

Now, Hurley will remain with the Huskies and attempt to help them become the first team to win three straight national championships since UCLA claimed seven consecutive titles under legendary head coach John Wooden from 1967-73.

The University of Connecticut is reportedly making a bid to convince head men's basketball coach Dan Hurley to stay put rather than making the leap to the NBA with the Los Angeles Lakers.

According to The Field of 68's Jeff Goodman, UConn has made a "strong offer" to Hurley, although it "obviously can't match or even get close to Lakers."

Goodman added that if Hurley signs a new contract with UConn, he would be one of the three highest-paid coaches in college basketball along with Kansas' Bill Self and Arkansas' John Calipari.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Thursday that the Lakers were preparing a "massive, long-term contract offer" to Hurley in an effort to make him their next head coach.

L.A. had been speaking to several other candidates, and while it was widely believed that former NBA guard JJ Redick was the front-runner for the job, Hurley has emerged as the Lakers' preferred choice.

Per Wojnarowski, Hurley "has been at the forefront of the Lakers' search from the beginning of the process," and discussions between the two sides are expected to "escalate" in the coming days.

Despite the allure of joining one of the most iconic franchises in NBA history and having the chance to coach LeBron James and Anthony Davis, Hurley is not a lock to go to the Lakers. Goodman reported that it's a "50-50" proposition whether he stays at UConn.

Following successful stints as the head coach at Wagner and Rhode Island, Hurley was hired by UConn in 2018. He has led the Huskies to four consecutive NCAA tournament appearances and back-to-back national championships.

UConn is the first program to win two straight national titles since Florida in 2006 and 2007. If Hurley were to return, he would have a chance to make the Huskies the first three-peat national champs since UCLA won seven titles in a row from 1967 to 1973.

Aside from the money and the excitement of a new challenge, the biggest factor in favor of Hurley going from UConn to the Lakers may be the state of the Huskies roster.

Four of UConn's five leading scorers from last season's 37-3 team have entered the 2024 NBA draft in Donovan Clingan, Cam Spencer, Tristen Newton and Stephon Castle.

That isn't to say that Hurley couldn't keep UConn in contention with his incoming recruiting class, transfers and holdovers, but that amount of turnover would not be easy to overcome.

Winning a championship in L.A. would also be a challenge. But given that James and Davis are just one season removed from leading the Lakers to the Western Conference Finals, the pieces are in place for Hurley to potentially step in and win an NBA championship right away.

Alex Karaban is going for a three-peat.

The UConn forward announced Wednesday he is withdrawing from the 2024 NBA draft and returning to the Huskies for the upcoming men's college basketball campaign. "While I've enjoyed the draft process, Storrs is home," he wrote. "Let's run it back."

Karaban and other draft prospects have until 11:59 p.m. ET on Wednesday to decide whether they will remain in the draft or return to school, so he made his decision close to the deadline.

While he was not included in the latest mock draft from Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman, he did have the opportunity to test himself against fellow prospects and go through the draft preparations. That will surely benefit him next year or beyond when he does decide to pursue the NBA.

David Borges of CT Insider noted he "had a strong performance" during the NBA Draft Combine that included impressive showings in three-point shooting drills and one of the five-on-five scrimmages.

Earlier this month, Karaban spoke to college basketball insider Andy Katz and certainly didn't rule out returning to school and playing another season under head coach Dan Hurley.

"It's a win-win no matter what," he said of his decision. "Staying in the draft, of course, is chasing my NBA dreams that I've always wanted for a while. But going back to school, there's no better place to play college basketball than for UConn. Playing under Coach Hurley and the coaching staff for another year would be a blessing."

This is certainly a boost for the Huskies, who will be going for their third consecutive national championship during the 2024-25 campaign.

The 2022-23 Big East All-Freshman took a jump during his sophomore season in 2023-24 and averaged 13.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.8 blocks per game while shooting 49.5 percent from the field and 37.9 percent from deep.

Karaban scored in double figures in three of the team's six NCAA tournament games, including when he posted 14 points, eight rebounds, two blocks and two assists during the Final Four victory over Alabama.

His decision to return gives UConn additional experience and a veteran leader during a season when it will surely receive the best shot from each of its opponents.

The NBA draft order is set after the lottery on Sunday, and fans and analysts now have a better idea of how teams might go about their selections.

ESPN's Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo released their post-lottery mock draft on Sunday and projected where a pair of notable big men could land in the draft.

Givony and Woo project the Charlotte Hornets to take UConn star Donovan Clingan with the No. 6 pick and have Purdue's Zach Edey going to the Miami Heat with the No. 15 pick.

Clingan, who led the Huskies to a national championship last season, stands at 7'2" and is arguably one of the best prospects coming out of the collegiate ranks in this year's draft. He averaged 13 points and 7.4 boards per game in the 2023-24 season, also blocking 2.5 shots per game.

Clingan's rim protection and solid offensive game make him a sound pick for the Hornets, and at just 20 years old, he has plenty of time to develop even more.

The Hornets have a top-10 pick for a second consecutive year after taking Brandon Miller with the No. 2 pick in 2023. Miller finished third in the Rookie of the Year race after averaging 17.3 points per game.

Adding some help in the frontcourt could help Charlotte finally change the trajectory of its franchise after missing the playoffs for eight consecutive seasons.

For Miami, Edey could be a perfect fit. The 7'4" senior led the Boilermakers to the NCAA tournament title game after averaging 25.2 points and 12.2 rebounds per game last season. He put up 29.5 points and 14.5 boards per game in the tournament, including a 40-point outburst in the Elite Eight against Tennessee.

Edey has a less refined offensive game than Clingan but is adept at getting to the free throw line and scoring at the rim. Overall, he still needs to develop to keep up with an NBA pace, but Miami has done an outstanding job developing players and likely would be able to turn Edey into an everyday player in the league.