UConn, coach Dan Hurley agree to 6-year, $50 million contract a month after rejecting Lakers’ offer

STORRS, Conn. (AP) — UConn and men’s basketball coach Dan Hurley have agreed to a six-year, $50 million contract through the 2029-30 season that makes him one of the highest-paid college coaches in the country, nearly a month after he turned down a lucrative offer to coach the Los Angeles Lakers.

Hurley, deceased guide the historic NBA club The university’s team, which has won two NCAA championships, can also earn more through performance-based bonuses, the school said in a statement Monday. He will receive $6.375 million next season on top of his $400,000 annual base salary, which includes compensation for his speaking, consulting and media obligations.

The agreement, which includes a $1 million annual retention bonus, will be covered by increased ticket sales revenue and donations from the Husky Athletic Fund, the statement added. It replaces the six years, $32.1 million deal reached in June 2023 after Hurley won his first national championship with UConn.

Hurley, 141-58 in six seasons with the Huskies and 292-163 overall heading into his 15th season as a Division I head coach, acknowledged the Lakers’ six-year, $70 million offer was “obviously tempting.” He was also mentioned as a candidate for the Kentucky coaching job after John Calipari is gone for Arkansas. But Hurley reiterated last month that he belongs to UConn and said in the statement that “it is an honor” to coach and represent the school and is proud of what the program has rebuilt for supporters and fans.

He added: “We will continue to obsessively pursue championships and historic success, while continuing to develop great young men. Bleed Blue!”

UConn President Radenka Maric called Hurley the best men’s basketball coach in the country and said he was pleased that Hurley would continue to call the club home. Athletic director David Benedict praised Hurley and his wife, Andrea, for their dedication to rebuilding the program and said the contract recognizes the “immense” effort that produced the results and the dedication it will take for the program to sustain it.

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This article corrects an earlier version that reported that Hurley’s $6.375 million salary for next season included an annual salary of $400,000.

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AP College Basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-poll-top-25-college-basketball-athletes And https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball