Dan Hurley-led UConn Huskies have been a dominant for͏ce͏ in men’s college ͏basketball͏, c͏lai͏min͏g back-to-back NCAA ͏titles in the last two seasons. ͏With an eye on history, th͏e͏ team is cha͏sing a ͏rare threepeat this ͏sea͏so͏n, a feat unseen s͏ince UCLA’s lege͏ndary ru͏n in the 1960s͏. However, despite Hurley’s incredible success, he lag͏s far behind his rival Bill Sel͏f͏ of Kansas Jayhawks, who sits atop the NCAA’s coaching salary ra͏nkings ͏with a staggering $͏10.6 million paycheck. While Self en͏joys͏ his however spot as the highe͏st-͏paid ͏c͏oach, Hurley͏’s decision to turn down the NBA’s bright li͏gh͏ts t͏e͏l͏ls a different story.

A few months back, Hurley revealed that he rejected a jaw-dropping six-year, $70 million contract from the Los Angeles Lakers to remain in Storrs, a choice that cost him $3.3 million annually. Speaking on In Depth with Graham Bensinger, Hurley shared the emotional toll of considering the move, explaining that breaking the news to his players before heading to L.A. was one of the hardest parts.

“I love being a part of this transformation for young men… You don’t get that relationship as an NBA coach,” Hurley admitted. After heartfelt discussions with his wife and reflecting on his players’ futures, he decided to stick with the Huskies.

Hu͏rle͏y’s loyalt͏y hasn’t gone ͏unrewarded, th͏ou͏gh. ͏UConn inked him ͏t͏o͏ a six-year, $50 ͏million ͏dea͏l that incl͏ud͏es͏ bonuses for͏ staying, medi͏a ͏obligations, and ͏othe͏r͏ perks. Whi͏le his $8.3 mill͏ion av͏erage ͏a͏n͏n͏ual s͏al͏ary͏ is͏ im͏pres͏sive, it also places ͏him ahead of NCAAB͏ ͏he͏avyweights li͏ke J͏ohn Calipari and Bru͏ce Pea͏rl as per Forbes. And Hur͏ley seems content,͏ saying, “If ͏you’͏re not͏ g͏o͏i͏ng to take the Lakers job,͏ the͏n what job are you going to take?”

Hurley’s influence extends beyond wins. Last year, he helped guide four Huskies players into the NBA, with stars like Stephon Castle and Donovan Clingan drafted in the top ten. His commitment to shaping lives over chasing dollars speaks volumes about his priorities as a coach.

With UConn poised for another historic season, Hurley’s sacrifice might just solidify his legacy as one of college basketball’s most impactful leaders. In the meantime, Self bags the top of the NCAAB salary list.

Bill Self stays on top as Dan Hurley climbs the pay ladder

College basketball is as much about star players as it is about superstar coaches, and Kansas’ Bill Self sits comfortably atop the coaching throne with a jaw-dropping annual average salary of $10.7 million as per Sportico’s list of 50 highest-paid coaches. His lifetime rolling contract with Jayhawks, valued at $53 million over five years, ensures his reign continues.

After securing his second NCAA title in 2022, Self has firmly established himself as the king of college hoops. “It’s a privilege to coach at Kansas,” Self once said, and the Jayhawks have made sure he stays well-compensated for his success.

Meanwhile, UConn’s Hurley isn’t far behind, boasting an average annual salary of $8.33 million. After turning down a $70 million offer from the Lakers, Hurley doubled down on his loyalty to the Huskies with a six-year, $50 million deal. his love for developing young talent and winning championships at the college level outweighs NBA glitz. “I love the transformation these kids go through here,” Hurley admitted, solidifying his preference for staying put.

Other coaching heavyweights include Kentucky’s former head coach John Calipari, pulling in $8.5 million a year. Known for developing NBA stars like Anthony Davis and Devin Booker, Calipari’s reputation and wallet are equally elite. Michigan State’s Tom Izzo earns $5.7 million, while Tennessee’s Rick Barnes comes in at $5.45 million, completing the coaching salary leaderboard.

While Dan Hurley edges closer, Self’s unmatched contract keeps him firmly on top. As March Madness approaches, the competition isn’t just on the court—it’s also in the bank accounts.