Is the NIL era a boon or bane? That is the exact question grappling the fans’ minds as coaches come forward to list the disadvantages of the new law. While athletes seem to be making the most of this, many believe that the changing landscape needs new coaches who can adapt to it. Recently, things took a serious turn after the Virginia Cavaliers head coach Tony Bennett called it a day, which caused the UConn Huskies women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma to lament over the problems with the NIL rules. However, despite being at a disadvantage, UConn’s men’s basketball coach Dan Hurley has stuck to his ideals, which can be used as a benchmark by some of the young mentors.

On Friday’s episode of Locked On UConn, Mark Zanetto reflected on the NIL era and how that has affected coaches. However, he also gave Hurley’s example which could inspire his peers to follow the evolving path.

“I think more what I want to focus on is, do you feel like some of these, the coaches, that have been pushed out because you talked to Pitino, and you know he’s seen the landscape change. And he’s not going anywhere in his 70s. Do you look at some of the NIL stuff as a cop-out for some of these coaches? Because Dan Hurley is an old-school guy, you know this. He is an old-school guy that’s been able to remake himself into a new school coach. But nothing has changed about his values. They don’t talk about NIL until they get the commitment from the kids,” Zanetto stated.

Hurley has been leading the Huskies since 2018, before the introduction of NIL. However, even after the NIL was introduced in 2021, the Storrs coach has never, according to, Zanetto discussed NIL with his athletes before their commitment to the program. Thus, he doesn’t lure them to earn more money and instead attracts them through his NCAA-contending vision and an opportunity to develop the players to the best of their potential.

Still, Hurley himself mentioned after his huge back-to-back National championship win, that Storrs is not a place where students come to enjoy collegiate life but to focus on what’s important. For his team, that is basketball and continuing the championship culture. While the reigning 2x champion has evolved, though, it has come with its own disadvantages, Zanetto feels not everyone is on board.

“I just wonder if, and I think Tony Bennett is a great coach. If the Tony Bennett stuff, Coach K, Roy Williams… all that do you think that the changing landscape has given coaches kind of like an excuse to kind of be like ‘You know what… I don’t want to be involved with it anymore,’ and… and not have all of the control,” Zanetto concluded.

As is the case, Hurley does seem to pay a price for his righteousness. From his 2023-24 NCAA winning team, Apostolos Roumoglou and Andre Johnson Jr. transferred to Richmond and Utah Valley respectively. Now it isn’t known if they did so to earn more money and or wanted to get more established roles on the court, but Hurley’s ethics could have hindered his aim to recruit the best players since they would also look to make money and maybe chose those programs where they seem to fulfill their monetary wishes too. Therefore, a lot of old-school coaches seem to give up, especially Bennett did so recently, that got a sarcastic dig on NIL from Auriemma.

Geno Auriemma proposes a middle ground for the NIL troubles

The Hall of Famer coach had initially expressed his displeasure with the NIL era. “There’s never been a time when this many things are changing,” the 70-year-old had expressed which many thought was his hint at hanging his boots. However, after Bennett retired, Auriemma found a middle ground that could save old-school coaches from the impact of NIL.

He asked for players to be in a legally binding agreement and a buyout clause as is the case in professional leagues. According to him, this would limit stars from leaving the program only for money.

“That’s number one… So, we obviously threw that in the garbage can. So let’s just call it what it is. We’re gonna pay these guys to play basketball, or play football, or to play any sport at a University. And then let’s make this a business and figure out how do we manage this business…. They sign kids to contract and you’re bound to your contract. And let’s honor the terms of the contract… So we become professional sports, let’s say it, and let’s act it. And let’s stop the charade. To portal, how about we teach the kids how to make a commitment and stick to it…. Let’s sign kids to a contract. Let’s put a buyout in it. Let’s make this a business…. That will fix it and let’s have a salary cap,” Auriemma concluded.

The 11x NCAA winning coach had at one time also questioned former Seton Hall star Lauren Park-Lane for transferring to Mississippi State. Hence, he doesn’t look to spare athletes who have been doing it only for money. While Park-Lane did subtly clarify that it was for getting a chance at the NCAA title, that is a conversation for another day.

And now with Hurley’s recruitment process coming to the fore, it can present an example to other coaches. And perhaps that’s how the current mentors can balance the advantages and disadvantages of the NIL era.