What Dan Hurley Returning means for Connecticut
Photo by Jame Schwaberow/USA Today
On Monday, June 10, Dan Hurley turned down a 6-year, $70 million contract to become the next head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. Despite the chance to coach stars like LeBron James and Anthony Davis, Hurley declined the bright lights of Los Angeles to stay in Connecticut and attempt something unheard of in modern college basketball: a three-peat.
After rebuilding Rhode Island to heights the program had never seen before, Hurley left in 2018 to take the job at Uconn. After four seasons in which the Huskies failed to make it out of the first round, Hurley’s group exploded in 2023, winning the NCAA Tournament. Then, despite losing the majority of their star power, the Huskies went on to finish 38-3 and win another championship in 2024. This accomplishment already placed the Huskies in rare company, as they became the first team to repeat since Florida's back-to-back championships in 2006 and 2007 under Billy Donovan. Now, as we move into the 2024-25 season, Connecticut, led by Dan Hurley, has a chance to make modern history as the first team to three-peat since John Wooden’s UCLA teams in the 1970s.
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Moving into next season, Hurley has a tough task ahead of him. Once again, the Huskies lose the majority of their production with guys like Donovan Clingan, Stephon Castle, and more entering the NBA Draft. However, Hurley has proved time and time again that as long as he is in charge, the Huskies will be one of the best teams in the country, regardless of roster turnover.
Adding transfers Aidan Mahaney (Saint Mary’s) and Tarris Reed (Michigan), as well as elite freshmen like Liam McNeeley and Ahmad Nowell, will once again position Connecticut as one of the best teams college basketball has to offer.
