The numbers that show Dan Hurley's contract extension is the biggest bargain in sports

UConn head coach Dan Hurley agreed to a six-year, $50M extension on Monday, a generous deal for the Huskies.

Considered by most the best current men's college basketball coach, here are some numbers that show why his lucrative contract could be the biggest bargain in sports.

2

UConn's number of national championships from the past two seasons

The Huskies have been a powerhouse under Hurley, who took over a program that hit rock bottom under his predecessor, Kevin Ollie. UConn was 30-35 over his last two seasons before the NCAA forced the program to vacate most of its results due to alleged recruiting violations under Ollie's watch.

Hurley won the program's first national title since 2014 last season and became the first coach to win back-to-back championships since Bulls head coach Billy Donovan at Florida (2006-07) in April.

4

The number of UConn players selected in the 2024 NBA Draft

Hurley's strength in developing players has been evident during UConn's remarkable run. There's no better indication of his talent in that regard than the four Huskies selected in the 2024 NBA Draft, including two (Stephon Castle, Donovan Clingan) in the lottery. 

Point guard Tristen Newton (No. 49 overall) and shooting guard Cam Spencer (No. 53 overall) round out the group and join 2023 draftees Jordan Hawkins (No. 14 overall) and Andre Jackson (No. 36 overall) to give Hurley six NBA draft picks over the past two seasons, more than any other college head coach.

21.7

UConn's average margin of victory in its last 12 NCAA Tournament games

UConn hasn't just won the past two national titles under Hurley; it's dominated in one of the best two-year runs we've seen in recent memory. The closest game during the Huskies' 12-0 span was a 13-point win over Miami in the 2023 Final Four, and its biggest blowout was a 39-point drubbing over Stetson in the first round of 2024.

68

The Huskies win total over the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons

One of college basketball's newest blue bloods, UConn has been one of the best program's in the country since former head coach Jim Calhoun first led it to a championship in 1999. Despite all of its recent success, it pales in comparison to Hurley's unprecedented stretch. According to ESPN, UConn's 68-11 record since the start of the 2022-23 season is the best in program history.

$10.6M

Kansas head coach Bill Self's average annual salary

The average annual value of Hurley's contract is roughly $8.3M, or $2.3M less than Kansas head coach Bill Self, the highest-paid coach in college basketball, per USA Today. In November 2023, Self renegotiated his contract with the Jayhawks, agreeing to a deal worth $53M over five seasons. 

Despite the hefty salary, it's doubtful he's worth more than Hurley. While also a two-time NCAA champion, Kansas hasn't made it past the first weekend of the tournament the past two years.

$70M

How much the Lakers offered Hurley over the same number of years

Hurley's $50M from UConn is particularly generous compared to what the Lakers offered him less than a month ago. Los Angeles applied a full-court press on Hurley and offered him a six-year, $70M deal. At the time, the Lakers were blasted online for the supposedly low-ball offer, but that's much more in line with what a coach of Hurley's caliber should make.