Last summer, Dan Hurley was presented with the predicament of a lifetime. He had to choose between making the jump to the NBA or sticking to college basketball. And this was no ordinary jump either—it was to coach the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Lakers offered him a six-year, $70 million deal. Instead of choosing NBA glory, he doubled down on the Huskies, signing a $50 million extension through 2030. The Lakers were left scrambling and ended up hiring JJ Redick. This season, however, things are looking shaky for Hurley’s college kingdom.
Dan Hurley’s Huskies out of the NCAA Tournament
The Huskies are out of March Madness. The dream of a historic three-peat is officially over. UConn entered the NCAA tournament this season with the hopes of yet another title. However, the Hurley squad fell 77-75 to Florida in the second round of March Madness.
The match was drama-packed, as expected, but in the last few minutes, Walter Clayton Jr. made back-to-back threes. This left the Huskies behind on the scoreboard and the Big East with zero representation in the Sweet 16. Just like that, Hurley’s prodigies went from possible title holders to early exit. This, for Hurley, stings on many levels.
Hurley built UConn into a dynasty, delivering back-to-back championships. But this season has been different. It saw many injuries, inconsistencies, and struggles at the point guard position. Veteran Hassan Diarra struggled, and transfer Aidan Mahaney never found his rhythm, leaving UConn vulnerable when it mattered most.
The loss, of course, raises questions about Hurley’s future at UConn. The transfer portal is already open, and roster changes are imminent.
Liam McNeeley is expected to leave, while Solo Ball, Tarris Reed, and Alex Karaban have tough decisions to make. Karaban, who returned to chase a third title, now faces an uncertain NBA future.
Additionally, Hurley might lose their top assistant, Luke Murray, to another program. Then, there is also the emotional toll. After the loss, Hurley addressed the press. He went on to admit that this season had been “tumultuous,” acknowledging that past UConn teams had the talent to overcome late-game mistakes. This time, they didn’t.
“It’s a lot of emotion, man. We’re a passionate program. The players play with it. I coach with it. And you’re always drained when it’s over,” Hurley added.
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So what is next for the ever-so-promising Hurley?
Well, he is still under contract at UConn. Hurley’s new contract includes a base salary of $400,000 annually. And additional compensation each year for media, consulting, and speaking engagements. For the 2024-25 season, this extra starts at $6.375 million. Additionally, he also gets a yearly retention bonus of $1 million. It is a pretty good contract.
The Lakers may have fumbled their shot, but other teams will come calling if Hurley feels that the college game is slipping away from him. It won’t be surprising if the next big offer finally lures him away.
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