Legendary college head coach believes Dan Hurley won’t leave the college game for the Lakers.
The Los Angeles Lakers might soon make waves in the NBA by announcing whether UConn head coach Dan Hurley will remain with the Huskies or join them as their 29th head coach. The basketball community is eagerly awaiting his decision, expected shortly. The Lakers have made a bold move and are hoping it pays off.
While optimism abounds that the Lakers will secure Hurley, there are dissenting opinions, including those of legendary college basketball head coach Rick Pitino. According to Dave Blezow of The New York Post, Pitino is skeptical that Hurley will leave the college ranks, despite the substantial financial benefits of joining the Lakers.
“What I’m hearing — and I have no [inside information] — is that his father [Bob Hurley Sr.] and his wife [Andrea] are very strong in his life and they don’t want to go,” Pitino said.
“I think he’s going to try it, no different than [John] Calipari tried it or I tried it. I don’t think he’s going to take the job, but I think he’s going to try the pros some day,” Pitino added.
The Lakers are pulling out all the stops to entice Hurley, and now the decision appears to be in his hands. Currently earning $5.2 million a year at UConn, a move to Los Angeles could see his salary triple to a staggering $15 million a year. The financial aspect of this potential move is not to be overlooked.
It will be a whole new ball game for Hurley, and it’s up to him if he wants to take it. Pitino also made a similar jump in 1997, leaving Kentucky University to the pros to become the head coach for the Boston Celtics, signing a 10-year, $70 million contract.
Pitino admitted that it was a mistake looking back at it, and while that’s the case, college basketball is very different now than it was in the late 90s. It’s a whole new ball game with the transfer portal and NIL. Hurley would be better off making his money and building a culture with the premier franchise in all of the sports.
