On the heels of his second men’s college basketball national championship, Dan Hurley is the most coveted coach in the sport. The Connecticut head coach spent Friday meeting with the Los Angeles Lakers, who are motivated buyers. Reports indicate Hurley is still weighing the offer to jump to pro basketball and his decision will come by Monday. Either way, I don’t think UConn’s headman is leaving, and here’s why.
Dan Hurley is an East Coast Guy
Dan Hurley was born in Jersey City and played college basketball at Seton Hall. Hurley’s wife is also from the area, and all their basketball coaching stops occurred in the northeast. Guys who have lived their entire lives along the Atlantic seaboard aren’t typically comfortable moving to a society that might as well be on Mars.
The Hurleys are devout Catholics; thus, I assume their family values are strong. Dan’s oldest son graduated from Seton Hall in 2021, and his youngest son, Andrew, just finished his senior season with the UConn men’s team. Indeed, Dan Hurley is a staple within the New Jersey and Connecticut areas and has the social power to move mountains.
Thus, it isn’t easy to imagine Hurley is willing to uproot his immediate family and move to the busiest city on the West Coast.
LeBron James is really in charge of the Lakers
It’s no secret that the Lakers handed LeBron James the keys to the franchise when they signed him to a four-year deal in 2018. Since then, the future Hall of Fame forward has motivated every move the team has made.
The Lakers traded away a hefty portion of their future to acquire Anthony Davis because LeBron needed a post presence. Then, Los Angeles brought in Russell Westbrook to help with ball movement and set up LeBron. And when Westbrook didn’t jive with LeBron, the team ate the cost and moved him out.
We still need to find out if LeBron James intends to exercise his player option for 2024-25, but he has $51.415 million reasons to do such. Also, it feels like a foregone conclusion that the Lakers will burn a second-round draft pick on Bronny James to fulfill Lebron’s prophecy of playing professional basketball with his oldest son. Never mind that Bronny’s current talent and preparedness for pro ball aligns with an undrafted free agent.
Hurley would be the fourth Lakers head coach of the LeBron James era. Despite the All-Star’s desire to fire him, Eric Spoelstra was the only head coach to survive a LeBron tenure. However, the only person in Miami bigger than LeBron James back then was Pat Riley, and Riley called the shots. But in Los Angeles, the self-proclaimed King is in charge.
Coach K set the example
Mike Krzyzewski retired as one of the greatest basketball coaches ever and never coached in the NBA. In a recent interview, Coach K admitted he never felt the need to jump to the pro game. Such is admirable, considering how many of his colleagues and predecessors tried and failed in the league.
Recently, The Sporting News reminisced about the time Krzyzewski turned down the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers reportedly offered the legendary Duke basketball coach record money to head west and replace Phil Jackson. However, Coach K remained with the program he built and never looked back.
For all we know, Krzyzewski might have thrived coaching the Lakers, but he knew his heart remained with Duke. I believe Dan Hurley’s heart remains with UConn. Also, Coach K proved that there’s nothing for a great college head coach to prove by jumping to the NBA.
If Hurley desires to work with the NBA’s top stars, he can follow in Coach K’s footsteps and coach the men’s national team.
Dan Hurley has plenty of money
When asked why Dan Hurley would consider countering every point I have made, the opposition responds with one word: money.
Indeed, the Lakers are likely offering to make Dan Hurley one of the highest-paid NBA head coaches. The contract offer will likely keep him the highest paid even if the situation doesn’t work out and he is fired. One might assume it’s ideal to get paid a ridiculous sum not to coach basketball. However, I don’t think Hurley would agree.
I’m sure Hurley enjoys his time off, but a middle-aged man in the prime of his coaching career is not content with getting fired and collecting a check to do nothing. Of course, I’m assuming he tries and fails with the Lakers. Again, for all we know, he’d thrive at coaching the pro game. Either way, Dan Hurley does not strike me as a guy who prioritizes money over other variables, including family.
Hurley currently makes $5.25 million annually, with a raise likely forthcoming from UConn. Also, Hurley’s success with the Huskies and surge in popularity will result in ample endorsement opportunities and paid speaking engagements.
Ultimately, I think that if Dan Hurley had been willing to uproot his family and bend the knee to Lebron, he wouldn’t have left Los Angeles on Friday. I also think Hurley is doing what any reasonable person would do in his situation: considering what it would be like in another part of the country and waiting for his agent to milk his current employer for more money.
Make sure you visit Belly Up Sports daily and follow me on Twitter/X. Also, check out the Third and Ten Podcast, available on all podcast formats.
Featured Image: Michael Reaves/Getty Images
