Sports World Reacts to Dan Hurley’s Decision to Reject Lakers, Return to UConn

Kristen Wong | Jun 10, 2024

David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

On Monday, news of Dan Hurley’s decision to stay at UConn and turn down the Los Angeles Lakers’ head coaching job rapidly spread across the sports world. 

Hurley rejected the Lakers’ six-year, $70 million offer, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, and will instead remain in Storrs to pursue a third straight national title with the Huskies.

The 51-year-old Hurley was tabbed as the Lakers’ top head coaching candidate by Wojnarowski last week, and his decision Monday ended rampant speculation over his coaching future. The back-to-back NCAA champion signed a six-year, $32.1 million contract with UConn in 2023 but could be in line for a raise soon.

As one might expect, Lakers fans reacted to the Hurley news with a wide range of emotions. The rest of the sports world chimed in, too.

It's almost like Dan Hurley leaked all of this through a trusted media source (who literally wrote a book on his dad) to secure himself an even bigger contract at UConn. Woj gets a big scoop, the Lakers get to say we tried, and Hurley gets a huge raise. Win. Win. Win. https://t.co/TYWvLS7c1J

— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) June 10, 2024

Dan Hurley's decision is massive for UConn in so many ways. If he'd left, players have 30 days to enter portal, and it's virtually impossible to run a full coaching search in June. UConn keeps a Hall of Fame-caliber coach, avoids a thorny transition and keeps a Top 5 roster.

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) June 10, 2024

Dan Hurley's decision to return to UConn cements him as the new face of college basketball, a title that Jay Wright and Coach K both held before him.

The Huskies now take aim at a third consecutive national title in 2024-25. https://t.co/2yJrnLZ9DE

— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) June 10, 2024

That 6yr $70M contract for Dan Hurley doesn’t scream all in for me 🤷🏾‍♂️

— Damien Woody (@damienwoody) June 10, 2024

I mean, Dan Hurley turned down Kentucky and the Lakers in a single summer. They gotta build the statue ... tonight.

— Myron Medcalf (@MedcalfByESPN) June 10, 2024

Dan Hurley to UConn:

pic.twitter.com/cbVtBzciF5

— College Basketball Report (@CBKReport) June 10, 2024

Lakers going back to JJ Redick after Dan Hurley turned them down pic.twitter.com/HYX5deBibN

— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) June 10, 2024

Lakers showing up at JJ Redick house after Dan Hurley decided to stay at UConn pic.twitter.com/fjfvmpmZCE

— Josiah Johnson (@KingJosiah54) June 10, 2024

Lakers fans hearing the Dan Hurley news

pic.twitter.com/8isMqM96TK

— Overtime (@overtime) June 10, 2024