On April 8, 2024, Dan Hurley coached the Connecticut Huskies in the national championship game against the Purdue Boilermakers at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Hurley is facing a tough decision about his future. He must choose between staying at UConn or becoming the new head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Hurley plans to make his decision on Monday, according to Wojnarowski. The Lakers have presented a compelling case to him and have offered him a massive contract to join their team long term. However, Hurley is proud of what he has accomplished with the two-time defending national champion UConn Huskies and is weighing his options carefully after back-to-back NCAA championships.
On Thursday, Hurley traveled to Los Angeles for a meeting with the Lakers and returned to the East Coast on Saturday. He was impressed by Lakers VP and GM Rob Pelinka and owner Jeanie Buss. The Lakers have had a tough time since winning the NBA championship in 2020 and hope that bringing in a champion like Hurley will provide the spark needed for a deep postseason run next season.
If Hurley chooses to join the NBA, he will replace Darvin Ham, who was fired by the Lakers after a first-round playoff elimination. His decision will have a significant impact on both UConn and the Lakers, and fans are eagerly awaiting his choice.
