(STORRS -- WTIC News) Saying his heart and his brain are at UConn, Huskies head coach Dan Hurley met with local reporters Thursday for the first time since deciding to turn down a lucrative offer to coach the Los Angeles Lakers.
A contract extension for Hurley is expected soon, but the coach says his dalliance with the Lakers was not a matter of trying to gain leverage in his negotiation with UConn. He says the financials on his new contract ($50 million over six years, according to the Hearst Connecticut newspapers and the Hartford Courant) were “probably” worked out two weeks ago.
Hurley says he was extremely impressed with the Lakers organization and excited about the possibility of coaching future Hall of Famer LeBron James. He and wife Andrea traveled to L.A. last Friday to meet with team brass. They decided over the weekend to remain at UConn.
The coach says Andrea was very much opposed to the proposed move when it first came up last week, saying, “She was angry. Anger turned to tears.
She wasn’t happy about it because we all love it here. When you love it and you’re so happy, you don’t want that type of disruption.”
Senior Alex Karaban, who will be the only returning starter from this year’s national championship team, spoke to Hurley on Sunday as the coach was considering his options.
“I just told him,” says Karaban, “‘I’m happy you’re considering it, everyone’s happy you’re considering it, we wanted you consider it because we know it’s your dream…’ We’re all just super happy that he’s back.”
Hurley decided that NBA dream should wait. For one thing, he thinks he’s making a lifelong impact on college players and their families that he might not have on the pros.
“You can really help change their lives,” says Hurley. “You can compete for big things and win big things, but, like, the impact that you have on Jordan Hawkins and his family and Donovan (Clingan) and his family… you get the top sports competition but then you also get the fulfillment too, which goes through your mind a lot.”