Pitt has offered Rhode Island's Dan Hurley a multi-year contract worth more than $3 million annually to become its next head coach, multiple sources told Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports.
The news comes less than 24 hours after an outlet in New Haven, Conn., reported that UConn was making a strong push to hire Hurley away from the Rams.
The Huskies, as a matter of fact, are still in the mix to land Hurley, though their offer isn't as rich as Pitt's, according to Rothstein's sources. The same applies to Rhode Island, which hopes to retain its nationally respected coach.
If the choice is between Pitt and UConn, several factors could sway Hurley's decision. Pitt plays in the most prestigious basketball conference in the country, but its roster is essentially bare, with a whopping nine players receiving releases to transfer.
UConn is one of college basketball's most cherished programs, and is only four years removed from its most recent national championship. However, the Huskies could face future recruiting penalties stemming from the Kevin Ollie era.
Hurley has guided Rhode Island to the second round of the NCAA tournament in back-to-back years, but has seemingly exhausted the winning potential of the Atlantic 10 program. He is the conference's reigning Coach of the Year.
