Who is Dan Hurley? Salary, record, potential contract for Lakers' top head coaching target (2024)

According to reports, the Los Angeles Lakers are "in a full-court press" in their pursuit of UConn men's basketball head coach Dan Hurley to be their next coach.

Hurley, 51, is coming off of a season in which he led the Huskies to a second consecutive national championship – becoming just the eighth men's program to do so – in his sixth season as their head coach.

The Lakers fired previous head coach Darvin Ham after two seasons in the role. The team just completed a season in which they won the NBA's inaugural in-season tournament and the postseason play-in tournament but lost to the Denver Nuggets in five games in the first round of the playoffs.

Who is Dan Hurley? Salary, record, potential contract for Lakers' top head coaching target (1)

Why the Lakers like Dan Hurley

Hurley has long been the target of Los Angeles' head coaching search, according to ESPN. He's an attractive choice for his demonstrated ability in building a system that can have sustained success, his creativity in offensive play design and his player development profile.

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The Huskies had two players – guards Jordan Hawkins and Andre Jackson Jr. – selected in the 2023 NBA Draft. A third – forward Adama Sanogo – signed with the Bulls as an undrafted free agent. In this year's class, center Donovan Clingan and guard Stephon Castle are projected lottery picks.

ESPN's reporting included a tidbit about how Hurley's success in developing players projects well into the future of the Lakers, especially if they were to draft Bronny James, LeBron James' son.

Adrian Wojnarowski wrote, "Assuming James returns to L.A. in free agency, the possibility of using the 55th pick in this month's NBA draft on USC freshman guard Bronny James makes Hurley an even more intriguing candidate. If that happens, James gets a chance to play with his son and the benefit of Hurley and his staff becoming responsible for Bronny's pro development."

Indeed, the four-time NBA MVP has taken to social media in the past as an outspoken supporter and fan of the UConn coach's abilities.

LAKERS COACH SEARCH:Los Angeles targeting UConn's Dan Hurley to be next coach with 'major' contract offer

Dan Hurley coaching history

Hurley, the son of Hall of Fame high school coach Bob Hurley, began his coaching career at Saint Benedict's Preparatory School in 2001. He coached there until 2010 before making the jump to coaching college basketball at Wagner College.

He coached at Wagner for two years and led the team to its best season in program history in his second year (2011-12). That success propelled Hurley into another head coaching job, this time in the Atlantic-10 conference with Rhode Island.

At the end of Hurley's first season with the Rams, the team finished tied for second-to-last in the conference. Under his leadership, Rhode Island steadily improved. In the 2014-15 season, the Rams went 13-5, tied for second in the A-10 and went to the NIT.

Two years later, Hurley guided the team back to its first NCAA tournament appearance since 1999 with a conference tournament win. He led them back to the tournament for a second consecutive year in the 2017-18 season. It would be his last season at Rhode Island and their last tournament appearance to date.

Hurley turned down a big contract from Rhode Island in order to take over at UConn in 2018. He ended the team's four-year NCAA tournament hiatus in 2021 and brought it back in 2022, though the Huskies were upset in the first round both years.

In 2023, Hurley and the Huskies got over the hump to win the program's fifth title and third since 2010. They did it in dominating fashion, not winning a game in the tournament by fewer than 13 points. UConn defeated San Diego State by 17 points in the final. Hurley signed a six-year contract extension after the season.

This year, they won a second consecutive title in similarly dominating fashion. After winning the Big East conference tournament for the first time since 2011, the Huskies swept through the NCAA tournament. Their closest competitions were a 14-point victory in the Final Four and a 15-point victory in the national championship game.

Dan Hurley stats, record as a head coach

SeasonTeamOverall recordConference recordPostseason performance
2010-11Wagner13-179-9Lost in conference first round
2011-12Wagner25-615-3Lost in conference semifinal
2012-13Rhode Island8-213-13Did not qualify
2013-14Rhode Island14-185-11Lost in conference second round
2014-15Rhode Island23-1013-5Lost in conference semifinal; NIT second round
2015-16Rhode Island17-159-9Lost in conference second round
2016-17Rhode Island25-1013-5Won conference tournament; NCAA second round
2017-18Rhode Island26-815-3Lost in conference final; NCAA second round
2018-19UConn16-176-12Lost in conference quarterfinal
2019-20UConn19-1210-8N/A*
2020-21UConn15-811-6Lost in conference semifinal; NCAA first round
2021-22UConn23-1013-6Lost in conference semifinal; NCAA first round
2022-23UConn31-813-7Lost in conference semifinal; NCAA champions
2023-24UConn37-318-2Won conference tournament; NCAA champions

DAN HURLEY:What to know about UConn head coach Dan Hurley, from playing to coaching

Dan Hurley UConn contract

Hurley signed a six-year, $32.1 million contract to stay at UConn after the 2023 championship season. Should he sign with the Lakers, his contract with the Huskies would require a roughly $1.88 million buyout.

Dan Hurley Lakers salary

Hurley's potential Lakers salary could elevate his yearly income by a significant margin, if the reports of a "massive, long-term offer" are accurate. His current contract pays him $5.25 million per year, making him one of college basketball's highest-paid coaches.

However, current top-paying NBA head coaching contracts range from $9.5 million a year (Steve Kerr, Warriors) to $16 million a year (Gregg Popovich, Spurs). Detroit Pistons head coach Monty Williams makes $13 million per year.

The Lakers' previous head coach, Ham, was rumored to make between $3 to $5 million per year, and Hurley will need some financial incentive to leave UConn. With that context and the Lakers' status as a big-market team, Hurley is set to make a pretty penny in an NBA job if he wants it.

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Who is Dan Hurley? Salary, record, potential contract for Lakers' top head coaching target (2024)

FAQs

Who is Dan Hurley? Salary, record, potential contract for Lakers' top head coaching target? ›

Dan Hurley UConn contract

What's Dan Hurley's salary? ›

Dan Hurley is in for a well-deserved raise. After rejecting the Lakers' offer to become their next head coach Monday, Hurley is set to receive a six-year, $50 million deal at UConn, according to Mike Anthony of CT Insider. The Lakers offered Hurley six years and $70 million.

How much will the Lakers offer Hurley? ›

Dan Hurley has turned down the Los Angeles Lakers' six-year, $70 million offer and will return to chase a third straight national title at UConn, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

What was the Lakers' offer to Dan Hurley? ›

Much of the basketball world was stunned by Hurley's apparently declining the Lakers' offer, reportedly of $70 million, according to ESPN.

How much money did Dan Hurley turn down? ›

UConn men's basketball coach Dan Hurley turns down $70 million LA Lakers contract, ESPN says. Connecticut Huskies head coach Dan Hurley watches the first half against the Purdue Boilermakers during the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament National Championship game in April 2024.

Why did Hurley reject the Lakers offer? ›

He told reporters the offer from the Lakers was "obviously tempting," but there were too many reasons to stay with the Huskies. "You think about the two places you are trying to choose between. You are coaching the back-to-back champs at UConn or the L.A. Lakers," Hurley said.

Where does Dan Hurley coach? ›

Dan Hurley is staying at UConn. Coming off back-to-back national championships, the celebrated Husky men's basketball coach Monday spurned an offer from the Los Angeles Lakers to join them and more than double his salary in the process.

What is Dan Hurley's current contract? ›

Hurley turned down a reported six-year, $70 million offer from the Los Angeles Lakers to remain with the Huskies. Hurley, 51, has led the Huskies to back-to-back national championships. He signed a six-year, $32.1 million contract that was announced last June.

Why did Dan Hurley stay at UConn? ›

The heart of Hurley's decision

In choosing to stay at UConn, Hurley reaffirmed his belief in the values that have guided his career. The relationships he has nurtured, the young talents he has developed, and the community he has inspired all played a crucial role in his decision.

Will Hurley leave UConn? ›

The franchise received the same answer from Hurley on Monday. The UConn Huskies coach announced he had decided to stay in Storrs, Connecticut, and continue his pursuit of a third straight NCAA title and the spoils of being recognized as the top coach in men's college basketball.

How much is Hurley worth? ›

Dan Hurley is an esteemed basketball coach known for his dynamic leadership and strategic acumen. He has a net worth of $20 million as of 2024, according to ClutchPoints. Hurley's impressive wealth is a testament to his successful coaching career.

Who owns Hurley? ›

Bluestar Alliance LLC, which bought Hurley from Nike, wants to expand the surfwear brand into a broader action-sports and lifestyle company, reaching beyond the beach and into areas including snow, skate, music and art.

How old is Dan Hurley? ›

Daniel S. Hurley (born January 16, 1973) is an American men's college basketball coach who is the head coach of the UConn Huskies. In 2023 and 2024, Hurley led UConn to back-to-back NCAA Division I national championships. He previously coached at Rhode Island and Wagner.

How much did wish pay to be on the Lakers jersey? ›

Still, when it came to the decision to shell out a reported $36 million to $42 million for the three-year Lakers deal, Szulczewski called it “basically a no-brainer.” I spoke to him in late September, before the start of the NBA regular season. Here are some of the main reasons he laid out for doing the deal.

What is the wish deal with the Lakers? ›

With the Lakers' three-year contract with Wish expiring, the team has hired the sports business agency Sportfive to secure the team's jersey patch sponsor for the 2021-2022 NBA season. The agency will also have the ability to secure up to three sponsorships with international-based brands.

How much are the LA Lakers worth? ›

Composition
TeamValueMarket
Golden State Warriors$7.7 billion$3.060 billion
New York Knicks$6.1 billion$2.821 billion
Los Angeles Lakers$5.9 billion$2.872 billion
Chicago Bulls$4.1 billion$1.437 billion
26 more rows

Did Dan Hurley play college ball? ›

He played five years of college basketball, including a redshirt year, at Seton Hall. He played under head coach P. J. Carlesimo during his first three seasons. During his years at Seton Hall, Hurley met psychologist Sister Catherine Waters, who changed his life.

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