By PAT EATON-ROBB
STORRS, Conn. (AP) — Rhode Island’s Dan Hurley agreed to become UConn’s coach, joining a team that is under NCAA investigation and fired Kevin Ollie this month after another losing season.
“It’s official! Dan Hurley named Head Coach of (UConn mens basketball),” UConn said on Twitter on Thursday.
The school said details of the agreement would be released later. A news conference is expected Friday
Hurley was 113-82 in six seasons with the Rams, who went 26-8 this year before losing in the second round of the NCAA Tournament to Duke. It was the second straight trip to the tournament for the Rams, who won their first regular-season Atlantic-10 championship.
The 45-year-old Hurley played at Seton Hall during its Big East rivalry with UConn in the 1990s. He is the son of Hall of Fame high school coach Bob Hurley Sr. and the brother of Arizona State coach Bob Hurley.
Before taking over at Rhode Island, Hurley coached for two seasons at Wagner and led the school to 25 wins in 2011-12. He also was considered a leading candidate for the vacant coaching job at of Pittsburgh.
UConn won its fourth national championship in 2014 but has fallen on hard times recently. The Huskies went 14-18 this year and 16-17 in 2016-17 after going 30 years without a losing season.
The program also is under an NCAA investigation amid allegations of recruiting violations and reports that team members may have participated in impermissible workouts before the season.
UConn is trying to terminate Ollie’s contract “with cause,” which would save the school from having to pay the more than $10 million left on the five year deal that expires in 2021.
Ollie has said he will fight that decision and a hearing involving him, his union and the school is expected to be held this week.
It’s not clear how many players from UConn’s team plan to return next season.
Terry Larrier, a transfer from Virginia Commonwealth with another year of eligibility remaining, has announced he will turn pro. The Huskies also said this week they were releasing their top recruit, guard James Akinjo from Richmond, California, from his commitment to the school.
