Dan Hurley Lakers offer UConn 3rd straight NCAA title quest

Dan Hurley decides to stay at UConn, turning down Lakers offer. Gov. Lamont vows to make him top-paid college coach.

Dan Hurley has made the decision to stay at the University of Connecticut, turning down an offer to coach the Los Angeles Lakers. This choice comes after days of speculation about his future and his commitment to leading the Huskies to a potential third consecutive NCAA championship.

Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont shared the news on social media, celebrating the fact that their MVP coach will remain in CT. ESPN was the first to report Hurley's decision on Monday, following their initial report that he was a serious candidate for the Lakers' coaching position. After meeting with Lakers officials on Friday, Hurley took the weekend to carefully consider his options.

It appears that Hurley's loyalty to UConn will be rewarded handsomely. Lamont, who stayed in touch with Hurley throughout the decision-making process, stated that the state will ensure he becomes the highest-paid college coach if he stays with the Huskies.

The University of Connecticut has not provided further comment, simply sharing an image of Hurley with his hands raised in victory and announcing that the team's practice was underway. Assistant coach Luke Murray, who has worked closely with Hurley in the past, also posted a video of Hurley celebrating a national title win without any additional comments.

Despite the allure of coaching one of the most prestigious franchises in professional sports and the opportunity to work with NBA legend LeBron James, Hurley ultimately chose to remain at UConn. His successful track record includes a 68-11 record over the past two championship seasons, with the Huskies dominating in NCAA tournament games and aiming for a historic third consecutive title.

Hurley's decision to stay at UConn rather than pursue an NBA coaching position is a rare choice in the world of collegiate sports. The last coach to make a similar decision was Larry Brown in 1988 after leading Kansas to an NCAA title. Brown went on to achieve success in the NBA, winning a championship with the Detroit Pistons in 2004.

With a strong coaching record and a commitment to building a championship culture at UConn, Hurley's decision is a testament to his dedication to the program's success. His leadership has been instrumental in the team's back-to-back national titles and sets the stage for continued excellence in the future.

As UConn celebrates Hurley's decision to stay, the Lakers are left to continue their search for a new head coach. Hurley's choice to remain at UConn solidifies his position as a respected and successful coach in the world of college basketball.

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