Dan Hurley to Florida?

[powerplay]

• From ESPN+
• Tuesday, 6:36 a.m.: The big addition to the cycle in the last few days is Florida, which opened when Mike White departed for conference rival Georgia. White leaving wasn't entirely unexpected, but most industry sources pinpointed Ole Miss as a more likely landing spot. But now that the job is open, where do the Gators look? The first name that started buzzing as soon as the job opened was Dayton's Anthony Grant, a Miami native who spent a decade as an assistant coach at Florida under Billy Donovan. He's done well with the Flyers, even if they were the first team out of this season's NCAA tournament field. Grant also spent six years as a head coach in the SEC with Alabama (2019-15).
  It's still early for favorites to emerge, but a couple of other names that could be involved are UConn's Dan Hurley, Oklahoma State's Mike Boynton, BYU's Mark Pope and Murray State's Matt McMahon. Cleveland State's Dennis Gates seems unlikely due to his time at Florida State, while Ohio State's Chris Holtmann is unlikely to want to move to another football-first school.

 

[MexicoHusky]

Similar rumors about JC in the early 90s. Wait and see I guess.

 

[shizzle787]

Florida is a step down for Hurley.

 

[Sportsman5]

Probably stays at UConn, but interest from other schools gives him leverage in his next contract negotiation

 

[John]

Florida is a step down for Hurley.

But it's not. This is the life of a non-P5 athletic department. When a decent P5 school approaches your coach, they'll be listened to.

 

[NJHoops]

No. Not a chance that happens.

 

[LIuconn]

SEC is a beast of a conference. If they throw SEC $ at him maybe he looks past his Northeast comfort

 

[shizzle787]

?

UConn is a better basketball job than Florida, and his recruiting ties are in the Northeast.

 

[Doctor Hoop]

Well, Florida can almost certainly pay more, and it's pretty easy to recruit Florida athletes when a) you have a track record and b) you're the "University of" said state. That said, pretty sure he has unfinished business here, and he's a NJ-Northeast kind of guy.

 

[superjohn]

But it's not. This is the life of a non-P5 athletic department. When a decent P5 school approaches your coach, they'll be listened to.

Absolutely clueless.

 

[huskypantz]

His dad comes to games here whenever he wants. I think it's more than just a coaching gig for Danny.

 

[Kolumbo]

I think Hurley is a Big East guy through and through, although the gators play all their home games in their home o'dome.

 

[NJHoops]

No. Not a chance that happens.

And to add to that, he has goals that he has for himself and his UConn program that he hasn’t come close to meeting yet. So, zero chance. As for leverage in contract negotiations, his first ask will always be for program enhancements (like an increased salary pool for assistants) when it comes time for things like that.

 

[Huskyforlife]

I’m usually one of the people who rolls their eyes at the ESPN hates us narrative. But it’s actually disgusting they put Dan on that list with mid major coaches who’d be looking to step up. UConn isn’t Duke or Kentucky, but we aren’t Murray St holy.

 

[JMick]

It's still early for favorites to emerge, but a couple of other names that could be involved

This isn't even a rumor. It's just a random thought someone came up with lol

 

[huskymedic]

Agents doing agent things…

 

[aburks41]

Well, Florida can almost certainly pay more, and it's pretty easy to recruit Florida athletes when a) you have a track record and b) you're the "University of" said state. That said, pretty sure he has unfinished business here, and he's a NJ-Northeast kind of guy.

You’re right. UConn has absolutely no track record and is not the University of Connecticut.

 

[John]

Absolutely clueless.

You think we have SEC deep pockets?

 

[The Viking]

This isn't even a rumor. It's just a random thought someone came up with lol

This is it exactly.

 

[BGesus4]

Maybe he can leverage this into having the XL Center reduced to rubble

 

[The Viking]

With all due respect to the OP this thread should be closed. It’s just some clueless persons thoughts. It’s not even quoting “sources”.

 

[WhereistheDove?]

I won't get worked up over total speculation. No doubt he'll leverage some of this into a better contract extension, but Hurley and White were being paid roughly $3M annually each (Hurley a bit less and White a bit more), so I doubt Florida would be in a situation to offer Hurley money he can't refuse. Would also just be an odd fit. No southeast connections, feels like a very odd cultural fit at the school, and he goes from being head of a school where basketball is clearly top dog to one where basketball is a distant afterthought.

I'm not saying big jobs won't come sniffing around if he keeps having success, but I'd be surprised if this was the one.

 

[superjohn]

You think we have SEC deep pockets?

No, I know Hurley isn't going anywhere. This is some guy throwing out names of coaches he personally likes.

If you think Hurley would even think about leaving for some decent P5 program you're lost.

 

[August_West]

Similar rumors about JC in the early 90s. Wait and see I guess.

JC himself said he was a hair away from going to South Carolina around 97

 

[ConnHuskBask]

I have a hard time seeing Hurley leaving except for Rutgers (NJ), Seton Hall (alma mater; NJ). Just strikes me as a guy who is all about the northeast and his home turf.