UConn fans have plenty to smile about. After days of speculation, Dan Hurley is back on the recruiting trail for the Huskies. ESPN was first to report the 51-year-old turned down a 6-year, $70 million dollar offer to become the next head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers.

“I’m sure the university is happy, I’m sure he’s happy, I’m sure the players are happy,” Rhode Island’s Tom Cronin said. “I’d like it to keep on going with this winning tradition that they’ve built here. It’s nothing but good for the university.”

In a statement, Hurley said, “I am humbled by this entire experience. At the end of the day, I am extremely proud of the championship culture we have built at Connecticut.”

UConn held practice on campus Monday afternoon after the news broke that Hurley would be staying to chase a third straight national title.

“Connecticut versus Los Angeles that’s a huge thing, we’re really small compared to them,” UConn parent Kim Lopez said. “I’m glad that he’s staying with us and that he chose us."

Governor Ned Lamont says the state will make sure Hurley is the top paid college coach.

“I think it's not about money for him. He's always wanted to do something in the pros,” Lamont says. “Going for the threepeat at UConn is pretty good too”

The university says Hurley will address the media Thursday afternoon after returning from a recruiting trip in Orlando.

Below are statements from Coach Hurley and David Benedict:

Hurley's full statement:

“I am humbled by this entire experience. At the end of the day, I am extremely proud of the championship culture we have built at Connecticut. We met as a team before today’s workout and our focus right now is on getting better this summer and connecting as a team as we continue to pursue championships.”

Benedict's statement:

"We are thrilled that Dan Hurley has made the decision to stay at UConn and continue building upon our championship tradition. He has helped return our men’s basketball program back to the pinnacle of the sport, including back-to-back NCAA Championships, and we’re grateful for his loyalty to UConn.

"We look forward to Dan’s continued leadership on and off the court at UConn. He will continue to bring great pride to Husky fans everywhere as we work toward a three-peat."

"As we navigate the rapidly evolving college athletics landscape, your donations, more than ever, will be necessary to sustain our success. The continued financial commitment from loyal and new donors to both departmental operations and NIL activities, such as the Husky Athletic fund and Bleeding Blue For Good, will be paramount to remain competitive on the national stage."