The University of Rhode Island is in the midst of discussions with basketball coach Dan Hurley that will keep him in Kingston for the foreseeable future.
URI athletic director Thorr Bjorn, speaking from Atlanta where the Final Four is being held, says he had been talking with Hurley about "program enhancements" and an extension to his contract even before widespread speculation surfaced last week that Hurley would be a top candidate to be the next coach at Rutgers.
Bjorn said Hurley has not been contacted by any other school and he's looking forward to getting his coach committed to keep improving the program. The two sides have been exploring a contract extension for several weeks.
"We're working on an extension and it's clear Dan is committed to staying at Rhode Island," Bjorn said. "We have been talking and we're getting close to finalizing some things that will move the program forward."
Hurley, who is also in Atlanta, told The Journal that he's looking forward to building URI into a winner.
"We've had great talks that go back a long while and then again the last few days and I'm excited about the direction of this and the future of what the program can become," he said.
Hurley signed a six-year deal when he came to URI last March. His pay package ranges from $600,000 to over $700,000, depending on attendance incentives and other bonuses. It is not clear if a raise is being discussed or if Hurley would just add additional years to his contract.