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2 months ago
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UConn coach Dan Hurley has signed a six-year, $50million contract to remain with the team after turning down a bumper offer from the Los Angeles Lakers.
Hurley was the No. 1 target for the NBA giants and was deep in discussions to take over, before ultimately opting to return to the college game for another tilt at the national championship.
Now, full details of his UConn contract have revealed the full extent of the pay cut he took to remain in Connecticut.
Hurley was offered a six-year, $70m deal to move to Los Angeles and coach LeBron James and Co, meaning he will earn $20m less over the course of the next six seasons.
The deal signed by Hurley also includes a series of undisclosed incentives, which would earn him a significant boost on his salary.
Dan Hurley has signed a big new contract at UConn - but is still earning $20m less than in LA
UConn announced the news on Monday morning, sending its fans wild on social media
It is expected that among those potential bonuses is winning another national championship, after Hurley took UConn to back-to-back March Madness titles.
UConn beat Purdue 75-60 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona this season, and the year before the team beat San Diego State 76-59 in Houston, Texas.
Hurley's decision to turn down the Lakers and stay with UConn came as a huge shock to the basketball world.
The 51-year-old's previous contract, signed in 2023, was a six-year, $32.1m deal, meaning his new terms are a significant increase.
He has never coached in the NBA and has been in charge of the Huskies since 2018.
Despite ultimately turning down the 17-time NBA champion Lakers, Hurley admitted he had been flattered by their interest.
LeBron James (left) and Co will instead be coached by JJ Redick heading into the new season
UConn was crowned back-to-back NCAA champions after beating Purdue in April
'I am humbled by this entire experience,' Hurley said in a statement as he broke his silence on his decision last month.
'At the end of the day, I am extremely proud of the championship culture we have built at Connecticut. We met as a team before today's workout and our focus right now is getting better this summer and connecting as a team as we continue to pursue championships.'
The news of Hurley's decision to spurn the Lakers was first reported by ESPN, who claimed he would have been among the NBA's six highest-paid coaches in Los Angeles.
The Lakers, meanwhile, instead opted for JJ Redick - LeBron's podcast co-host - to lead the team into its new era, with the team also drafting Bronny last month.
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