"Always been a great advisor and counsel": Dan Hurley leaned on Seth Greenberg, Tom Izzo and other coaching icons for guidance during Lakers talks 

UConn head coach Dan Hurley has occupied the headlines since last weekend with his offer from the Los Angeles Lakers for the vacant head coaching position. He rejected the job offer on Monday and has since been back to work at UConn overseeing practice sessions and recruitment camps.

On Thursday, Hurley was interviewed by CBS Sports' Matt Norlander, where he talked about the entire Lakers experience. He was asked whose advice he sought in the decision-making process, to which Hurley said:

"Seth Greenberg. He's always been a great, great advisor and counsel for me. People that I have really have a lot of respect for. Tom Izzo. I talked to him. He was very helpful. Billy Donovan has always been somebody I talked to a lot.

"Brad Stevens, Quin Snyder. Quin Snyder is a really smart guy who, I know that they [Atlanta Hawks] really like Donovan [Clingan], so I was able to kind of talk to them about Donovan, but then also to pick his brain in large part."

With his rejection, Dan Hurley and the UConn Huskies now turn their focus to preparing for another attempt at the NCAA championship, after winning back-to-back titles. They could become the first team since John Wooden's UCLA Bruins in the 1970s to achieve a three-peat.

​

Dan Hurley factors in Alex Karaban as one of his reasons for staying at UConn

Alex Karaban performed exceptionally at the NBA draft Combine in May and was even named an "NBA-ready rotational player". However, he surprised everyone by withdrawing from the draft and returning to UConn for his red-shirt junior season.

Karaban is the only returning starter from the championship-winning team last season and was also the only player that Dan Hurley spoke to before making his decision. In the same interview, the Naismith Coach of the Year said:

"I actually talked to him [Alex Karaban] on Sunday. And I didn't talk to many people. I put the phone away at that point, but he was one of the few people I called and spoke to" (via CBS Sports).

"He told me he'd be disappointed, but basically, he understood. Because this was like the equivalent, for these guys, of being a lottery pick, being a top-five pick, to coach the Lakers was the equivalent for me of being the top pick in the draft of coaching."

The UConn roster has seen a few changes this off-season, but this is not a first for Dan Hurley. He won his previous two championships with completely new teams and winning a third could cement his legacy as one of the greatest college basketball coaches of all time, and help justify his decision to stay in Storss instead of the bright lights in Hollywood.

What do you think of Hurley's chances at the third title? Let us know in the comment section below.

​