The UConn Huskies have long been one of the most prestigious programs in college basketball, with their men’s and women’s teams building dominant legacies. On the men’s side, head coach Dan Hurley has taken the program to another level, building on their 2011 title and delivering consecutive national championships in 2023 and 2024.

Last season, UConn finished with an impressive 37-3 record, the best by any title-winning team since John Calipari’s 2012 Kentucky squad. Their back-to-back championships made them the first team to achieve the feat since Florida in 2006-07. Hurley stood at the pinnacle of college basketball—until an enticing NBA opportunity came knocking.

The Lakers’ offer to Dan Hurley

Following UConn’s second consecutive championship, the Los Angeles Lakers reached out, hoping to lure Hurley into the NBA coaching ranks. For weeks, rumors swirled. Would he leave UConn? Would he take on the challenge of coaching LeBron James as the superstar neared the end of his career?

In a move that stunned many, Hurley declined the NBA job and instead signed a six-year, $50 million extension with UConn. This deal made him the third highest-paid coach in men’s college basketball, but more importantly, it gave him a chance at history—a rare three-peat, something no team had accomplished since UCLA’s dynasty in the 1960s and 70s.

However, instead of adding to his coaching legacy, the 2024-25 season has turned into a battle to stay relevant.

UConn’s struggles after Hurley rejects the Lakers

UConn began the season ranked No. 2 in the country, but early difficulties quickly ended their hopes of a historic three-peat. They matched last year’s total number of losses—three—by just their seventh game, faltering in the Maui Invitational. A promising eight-game win streak followed, but then came another blow: a loss to unranked Villanova, followed by an erratic stretch of inconsistent performances.

By the end of the regular season, UConn finished with a 23-9 record—unranked and a shadow of the dominant team from the previous year.

Now, as they compete in the Big East Tournament Final Four, they may be playing to protect Hurley’s reputation in the first year of his massive contract extension.

Did Dan Hurley make a mistake choosing UConn over the Lakers?

Recently, Hurley acknowledged that many of his players will either declare for the NBA Draft or enter the transfer portal, meaning the next season could be an even bigger challenge. With UConn’s championship core falling apart, the team could be heading for a major rebuilding phase.

Meanwhile, the NBA moved forward without him—and Hurley may have