Dan Hurley Rejects Lakers Coaching Job, Turns Down $70 Million

2:20 PM PT — Dan Hurley simply addressed the elephant within the room … saying it was a humbling expertise.

“At the end of the day, I am extremely proud of the championship culture we have built at Connecticut,” he stated.

Hurley added he met with the crew previous to Monday’s apply … and now, they’re switching focus again to getting higher as a crew and defending their championship this season.

Dan Hurley is slamming the door on the Los Angeles Lakers … with studies saying he is not going to settle for their profitable, $70 MILLION provide to change into their subsequent head coach — selecting to stay at UConn.

The information broke on Monday … with Fox Sports activities’ John Fanta saying Hurley will pursue his third-straight nationwide championship as a substitute of creating the soar to the Affiliation.

Hurley’s ties to the Purple and Gold seemingly got here out of nowhere final week … when ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski revealed the Lakers have been eyeing the back-to-back championship-winning coach all the time — and have been making ready to again up the Brinks vehicles to make it occur.

Woj reported Hurley’s provide was a six-year deal value $70 million … however even that kinda dough wasn’t sufficient to sway him away from Storrs.

The Lakers reportedly additionally had curiosity in names like James Borrego, JJ Redick, Sam Cassell, Kenny Atkinson, Mike Budenholzer and Ty Lue in the beginning of their search.

Now, they will return to the drafting board … which breathes life again into the rumors the previous Duke famous person may very well be Darvin Ham‘s substitute.

One other title that has been thrown into the combination — former longtime Villanova coach Jay Wright, who the Lakers have additionally seemed into in latest days.

As we beforehand reported, Ham got the boot after simply two seasons … on the heels of the Lake Present’s early exit from the playoffs by the hands of the defending champion Denver Nuggets.