"I don’t like them, I love them": Legendary Mike Krzyzewski crowns UConn's Dan Hurley as the new torchbearer of college basketball

Mike Krzyzewski and Dan Hurley have made a substantial impact on college basketball. Krzyzewski, who retired in 2022, won over 1,200 games and five national championships while leading Duke. Hurley aims to achieve a similar success level with UConn, which he has already led to two NCAA titles.

On Monday, Krzyzewski was a guest on "The Rich Eisen Show," where he praised Hurley and explained why he was not shocked that the former Rhode Island coach decided not to leave UConn for the Lakers job.

"One is he [Dan] understood his commitment to Connecticut and what a great institution and program that Jim Calhoun started there, and it’s continued," Krzyzewski told Eisen. "I think his commitment to the game was part of the reason he stayed.

"He’s one of the leaders right now for college basketball, maybe the top leader, at least one of the top two or three. You have a responsibility, you know you can’t just win trophies, although those are nice to win. You have to make a commitment to the game. He’s a lifer, his family are lifers, they have a huge commitment to basketball. I love them. I don’t like them, I love them." [Time Stamp - 2:29]

The Lakers offered Dan Hurley a six-year, $70 million in June to become their new head coach, but he ultimately declined the NBA job and decided to stay in Storrs where he believes he can build a lasting legacy.

Dan Hurley is following in Mike Krzyzewski's footsteps

It might come as a surprise to many, but Dan Hurley and Mike Krzyzewski have very similar career paths. Coach K, who joined Duke in 1980, won his first two national championships back to back in 1991 and 1992. He then led the Blue Devils to more championships in 2001, 2010 and 2015.

Dan Hurley, meanwhile, won consecutive NCAA titles in 2023 and 2024. Just like how Hurley was offered the Lakers job, Krzyzewski was considered in 2004, when Phil Jackson resigned as head coach of the Lakers.

Hurley and Krzyzewski declined NBA coaching offers to continue their careers at the collegiate level.