Rhode Island's Dan Hurley to coach UConn team under inquiry

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.

The school announced the agreement on Twitter on Thursday. A spokesman said details 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.

Hurley is expected to sign a six-year contract worth about $3 million a year. The base salary would be much less, with the difference made up through perks such as speaking engagements and media appearances, a UConn official told The Associated Press. The official, not authorized to discuss the deal, spoke on condition of anonymity.

Hurley would be paid from athletic department funds, such as money from tickets and licensing, and not the school's general budget, the official added.

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 investigating amid reports of recruiting violations and 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.

Michael Bailey, the executive director of the university chapter of the American Association of University Professors, said Ollie could then appeal any decision to UConn President Susan Herbst.

"If the president decides to continue to seek termination, UConn-AAUP will make the decision to take the case to arbitration," Bailey said in an email.

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.