Dan Hurley agrees to new contract after turning down Los Angeles Lakers offer

Dan Hurley, UConn's men's basketball coach, has agreed to a six-year, $50 million deal through the 2029-30 season, making him one of the top-paid college coaches in the country, over a month after turning down a lucrative offer to coach the Los Angeles Lakers.

Hurley, who turned up the opportunity to lead the historic NBA franchise back to the two-time reigning NCAA champs, can also earn extra through performance-based incentives, according to a school press statement issued Monday. He will earn $6.375 million next season in addition to his $400,000 standard annual income, which includes money for speaking, consulting, and media appearances.

The arrangement, which includes a $1 million yearly retention bonus, will be funded by increasing ticket sales and donations from the Husky Athletic Fund, according to the statement. It replaces Hurley's six-year, $32.1 million contract signed in June 2023, after he won his first national title with Connecticut.

Dan Hurley, who is beginning his 15th season as a Division I head coach and is 141-58 in six seasons with the Huskies and 292-163 overall, said that the Lakers' six-year, $70 million offer was "obviously tempting." In addition, he was floated as a potential coach at Kentucky following the departure of John Calipari to Arkansas.

Dan Hurley receives praises

Hurley, nevertheless, reaffirmed last month that he is a UConn student and said in the press release that "it's an honor" to coach and represent the university. He is also pleased with what the program has established for fans and supporters.

UConn President Radenka Maric praised Hurley as the top men's basketball coach in the country and expressed his happiness that he will remain at the university. Athletic director David Benedict complimented Hurley and their wife Andrea for putting their hearts and souls into rebuilding the program, adding that the contract recognizes the "immense" effort that has yielded the results as well as the devotion required to keep the program going.