Dan Hurley opens up on the impact finances had on his decision to stay at UConn

College basketball fans were on the edges of their seats Monday to see if UConn head coach Dan Hurley would stay with the program or accept a job as the next head coach for the Los Angeles Lakers. Ultimately deciding to stay with the Huskies after leading them to back-to-back national championships the past two seasons.

Initial reports regarding the Lakers’ pursuit of Hurley included talks of a massive, long-term contract for the reigning Naismith Coach of the Year. Which wound up being a six-year, $70 million deal that would have made him the sixth-highest paid coach in the NBA.

Hurley joined The Dan LeBatard Show on Thursday and was asked if there was an amount of money that could have potentially changed his mind and his decision to return to UConn for another season.

“To say that it’s not a motivating factor, the finances, to leave a place is definitely a thing. To stay at a place, I don’t think it’s ever gonna be a thing. Like to stay somewhere like UConn it would never have been I think a financial thing,” Hurley said. “Again, like this wasn’t some pressure tactic to make me the highest-paid college coach.”

“That s*** was already done.”

Some believed that Hurley’s interview process and discussion with the Lakers were a leverage play to receive a more lucrative contract from UConn. Which he made clear was not the case having already agreeing to a new contract with the Huskies. As he spoke more on the sentimental reasons for staying in Storrs that go beyond just money.

“But to leave a place that you feel the way we do, and the family connection with my wife, my sons, my mother-in-law, my brother, my father. Who I know how much it means to go to the Big East Tournament and to come to 10 UConn games a year at home sitting court-side when I’m coaching against Rick Pitino,” Hurley said speaking about his father and Hall of Fame coach Bob Hurley.

“To leave all that behind there probably is a number, I don’t know what that is,” Hurley concluded.

Former NBA player and current analyst J.J. Redick has re-emerged as the top candidate for the Lakers head coaching job following Hurley’s decision. As the Huskies will continue working towards and extension for their head coach and he works towards leading the program to a third-straight national championship.