UConn men’s basketball coach Dan Hurley says he turned down his father’s recommendation to leave college basketball and become head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, choosing instead to remain in Storrs after back-to-back NCAA titles.
Hurley discussed the 2024 decision in an interview with CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein while promoting his new book. According to Rothstein, Hall of Fame high-school coach Bob Hurley Sr. urged his son to accept the Lakers’ offer. Dan Hurley ultimately stayed at UConn and Los Angeles hired JJ Redick.
“The thing with my dad is, at different points in my career, he’s advised us to make the move and take the job, and he never did,” Hurley said. “I always took my dad’s advice on career advancement with a heavy grain of salt, because he never left St. Anthony.”
Bob Hurley Sr. spent 39 seasons at St. Anthony High School in Jersey City, New Jersey, winning four national championships and 26 state titles but never moving to college or professional coaching despite repeated opportunities.
Lakers Move Forward With Redick
The Lakers’ pursuit of Hurley ended when he chose to stay at UConn. The franchise then hired former NBA guard and broadcaster JJ Redick, who guided Los Angeles to the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference last season and is now slated to coach star guard Luka Dončić long-term.
Veteran guard Marcus Smart, one of the Lakers’ offseason additions, recently said Redick “doesn’t get enough credit” for his basketball IQ.
UConn’s Difficult Follow-Up Season
Hurley’s Huskies struggled after their consecutive national championships, finishing third in the Big East, exiting in the NCAA Tournament’s second round and matching the total number of losses from the previous two title campaigns combined.
While some observers have questioned Hurley’s choice in hindsight, the 51-year-old coach remains committed to UConn, where he has led the program since 2018.
Source: Lakers Nation
