UConn finally gets Dan Hurley to be their new coach

PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 17: Head coach Dan Hurley of the Rhode Island Rams reacts against the Duke Blue Devils during the first half in the second round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 17, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

After days of deliberation, and weighing other offers, Dan Hurley is headed to UConn to replace Kevin Ollie.

Back-to-back 25-plus win seasons with an NCAA Tournament appearance in each made Dan Hurley a prime candidate to jump to a job in a Power 5 conference. Pitt and UConn were both immediately in the mix after Rhode Island’s season ended last weekend, and according to multiple reports Hurley has decided to replace Kevin Ollie at UConn.

Hurley rebuilt the Rams’ program, from an 8-21 record in his first season (2012-13) to at least 23 wins in three of his last four seasons. He is deeply rooted in East Coast basketball, dating back to his days as a player at Seton Hall and through stops as head coach at St. Benedict’s Prep (NJ), Wagner and Rhode Island.

After a report Monday UConn was close to hiring Hurley, Pitt entered the mix with a reported contract offer worth more than $3 million per year. Staying at Rhode Island was also an option, with a reported offer of $2 million per year over seven years. The financial terms of Hurley’s deal at UConn have not been released.

It was ultimately the better tradition of success at UConn, with four national titles in the last 20 years, that tipped the balance for Hurley. He will also bring Tom Moore, a former UConn assistant under Jim Calhoun, with him from his staff at Rhode Island.

Dan Hurley's deal at UConn is worth 6 years, per a source.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 22, 2018

Tom Moore is expected to be a part of Dan Hurley’s staff at UConn as an assistant coach, per a source. Was a former assistant under Jim Calhoun.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 22, 2018

Terry Larrier, the Huskies’ third-leading scorer (13.9 points) and second-leading rebounder (4.8 per game) this year, has announced he will go pro. Leading scorer and assist man Jalen Adams (18.1 points and 4.7 assists per game) has been noncommittal about a decision, but he could be gone to the NBA draft too. It’s at best unclear if Hurley’s hiring will push Adams one way or the other.

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Hurley was pretty clearly the right guy for UConn, and their No. 1 target to replace Ollie. Now he’ll have the task of bringing the men’s basketball program back closer to the level the women’s program has maintained.