UConn basketball has suddenly come back down to earth after winning its second consecutive national title. Just five months out from the season, the Huskies may lose their head coach to the Los Angeles Lakers as the Purple and Gold look to replace Darvin Ham.
UConn doesn't feel too hot about Dan Hurley's possible departure, via Fox Sports' John Fanta.
“Right now the vibes are highly concerned and panicky,” Fanta said. “You're talking about a situation where you are on cloud nine. Your team's on cloud nine, your program's on cloud nine. UConn men's basketball has mostly been on that cloud since 1999 with the six national championships in the last 25 years. Their focus becomes a three-peat. Dan Hurley talks about becoming John Wooden. He literally said Wooden's name, he has a picture of John Wooden in his office in Storrs because he wants to be like him…Of course, five to seven years from now, he thought ‘I'll be in the NBA.' Well, that gets accelerated when it's the Los Angeles Lakers calling.”
Unforeseen circumstances can often change people's goals and desires. There was no reason for Hurley to leave the Huskies after so much success, but it'd be hard for any coach to ignore a massive offer from one of the NBA's most iconic franchises. The Lakers are reportedly willing to give him over $100 million, via CT Insider.
However, there's more at stake for UConn than just Hurley himself.
UConn basketball's brass will be in a tough spot if Hurley leaves
The Huskies have done all they can to retain Hurley, but it still may not be enough.
“So what's the vibe? He told his players yesterday [Wednesday] morning before their noon practice that yes, these rumors are real that he's in talks with the Lakers,” Fanta continued. “Now, University of Connecticut put together a lucrative, lucrative contract offer to Hurley that included significant benefits across the board for him and his family. This has been in place long before the Lakers reached out to talk to Hurley, but that contract offer has not been signed.”
Now, UConn may be forced to pick up the pieces at an inconvenient time. It's uncommon to lose a head coach this deep into the offseason, and Hurley's departure would put the Huskies significantly behind the eight ball as the season approaches.
“So I think that behind the scenes, there's been a little bit of perplexing nature in Storrs wondering what's going on, what would be the holdup here,” Fanta said. “But right now, there's a panic, because guys, we're not talking about a situation where he would just be leaving. It's the timing. It's June, every college basketball head coach around the country that UConn would want on their wishlist, they've set their roster, they're dealing out their NIL, and their teams are practicing right now.”
The only realistic short-term option would probably be to promote an assistant from within. However, if Hurley leaves, don't expect UConn to achieve the elusive three-peat. It's astronomically difficult for any coach to take the reigns late into the offseason, let alone an assistant who's never been the top dog before.
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