Dan Hurley - NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament - Final Four - Practice
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - Head coach Dan Hurley of the Connecticut Huskies reacts during a practice session at State Farm Stadium on April 05, 2024 in Glendale, Arizona. Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Dan Hurley has turned down offers from two of the most prestigious college and professional sports basketball teams to remain with the UConn Huskies.

The 51-year-old coach attracted interest from the Kentucky Wildcats, one of the top college basketball programs ever, and the Los Angeles Lakers, arguably the most storied franchise in the NBA.

Both teams offered him similar annual salaries, with Kentucky proposing a deal worth $11 million per season, which would easily make him the highest-paid college basketball coach in the country, as no one else currently earns more than $10 million.

Meanwhile, the Lakers presented a six-year contract worth $70 million, translating to an annual salary of $11.6 million, positioning him as the sixth-highest-paid coach in the league.

Kentucky eventually settled with former player Mark Pope to lead the team on a five-year contract worth $5.5 million annually, surpassing Hurley's current salary at UConn, which stands at $5.1 million.

However, UConn and Hurley are currently negotiating an improved deal that would make him the highest-paid college coach in the country.

Lakers criticized for penny-pinching for head coach

Meanwhile, several figures expressed disappointment as the team didn't present Hurley with a staggering offer, especially given the increasing salaries for NBA head coaches, considering the team's esteemed brand and revenue.