Hurley Expected To Accept URI Post Soon
Monday, March 19, 2012
Wagner men’s basketball coach Danny Hurley is expected to accept the URI men’s basketball head coaching position as soon as today, GoLocalProv.com has learned. An official announcement could be made within the next few days by the university.
As was reported here on Friday, URI offered Hurley its men’s basketball head coaching position last week. After visiting the campus with his wife Andrea over the weekend, she reportedly gave him her blessing to make the move.
Sources close to Hurley claim that he was upset with our report last week saying that he was going to take the URI job because he wanted to meet with his players at Wagner first to break the news to them.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThose same sources also claim that Wagner made a last ditch effort to keep Hurley at the school but they could not match the financial package offered by Rhode Island or the opportunity to compete at the same level as the Atlantic Ten which sent 4 teams to this year’s NCAA Tournament.
URI athletic director Thorr Bjorn told the Providence Journal that there was “an erroneous and inaccurate report out there” and that “no decisions have been made regarding our men’s basketball search” over the weekend. However, according to sources close to the program, the decision had, indeed, been made to offer Hurley the job which is why Hurley and his wife were on campus Friday.
Bjorn may have been referring to our headline which read: “URI Hires Hurley.” In that case, he was technically correct because Hurley had not officially been hired. He had been offered the job where details of his compensation package were laid out.
Upon hearing that, and from sources close to Hurley who said that he was going to accept the job, GoLocalProv.com decided to run the story Friday which we continue to stand by.
Sources indicate the deal for Hurley could be worth upwards of $735,000 annually for Hurley. A published report on silive.com claims the deal is for 6 years and could be worth up to a total of $4 million when you combine salary with incentives.
Hurley's brother Bobby will reportedly stay at Wagner where it is presumed that he will succeed Dan as the Seahawks head coach.
Meanwhile, many at URI would like to see Danny Hurley keep current Rams assistant Preston Murphy on staff although it is not known if that was a condition of the hire.
