One of those friends was Bulls head coach Billy Donovan. Donovan won back-to-back titles as the coach of the Florida Gators in 2006 and 2007, so he understands what Hurley is going through at the present moment.

Billy Donovan was a perfect sounding board for Hurley while he considered the NBA last spring. “We didn’t get into the Lakers’ situation or their personnel,” recalled Donovan, who is entering his fifth season as Chicago Bulls’ head coach.

When deciding between staying at UConn or accepting a job to be the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, Dan Hurley consulted an NBA coach who faced

UConn men's basketball coach Dan Hurley was in similar spot as Billy Donovan 17 years earlier this summer, and sought Chicago Bulls' coach's advice.