Following his success with UConn, Dan Hurley has caught the eye of the Los Angeles Lakers, who are prioritizing him in their search for a new head coach. According to ESPN, the Lakers are gearing up to present Hurley with a substantial long-term contract offer. CBS Sports’ Bill Reiter confirmed the Lakers’ pursuit of Hurley, and initial discussions about the position have already taken place.
Hurley informed his UConn team on Thursday about his talks with the Lakers, CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander confirmed. ESPN adds that Hurley and the Lakers are scheduled to meet in California on Friday to further discuss the opportunity.
The Lakers recently parted ways with Darvin Ham after just two seasons. Initially, JJ Redick, a longtime NBA player and current broadcaster, was considered a frontrunner for the position. However, Adrian Wojnarowski reports that Hurley has been the primary target throughout the process.
Hurley has been a focal point of the Lakers’ search from the start, despite the organization interviewing several other candidates. Lakers vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka, along with governor Jeanie Buss, are keen to discuss how Hurley’s successful coaching style and player development approach can integrate with the Lakers’ brand.
Earlier this offseason, Hurley declined an offer from the University of Kentucky, expressing his lack of interest in coaching elsewhere in college basketball but hinted at a future interest in the NBA. He mentioned last year that he needed more development before considering an NBA role, referring to his animated coaching style.
Hurley, 51, secured a six-year, $32.1 million contract with UConn after leading the team to a national championship in 2023. He followed that success by winning another championship this spring, becoming the first coach since Billy Donovan to achieve back-to-back titles. Hurley and UConn are currently negotiating a new deal that would increase his and his coaching staff’s compensation.
Hurley has reshaped his roster for the upcoming season, aiming for a three-peat with key players like Alex Karaban, Hassan Diarra, and Jaylin Stewart returning. The Huskies are ranked No. 5 in Gary Parrish’s latest Top 25 and 1 and have strong odds to win next season according to Bovada.
The landscape of college athletics has changed significantly with the rise of the transfer portal and NIL rights, making coaching more challenging. Notable figures like Nick Saban, Mike Krzyzewski, Roy Williams, and Jay Wright have retired, and Hurley has openly discussed the difficulties of navigating this new era.
If Hurley transitions to the Lakers, he would follow in the footsteps of Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh, who left his alma mater to coach the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers.
