Men's College Basketball

Danny Hurley turns down Rutgers, signs extension with Rhode Island

Rutgers' search for a head coach continues after Rhode Island coach Danny Hurley turned down the Scarlet Knights' offer and signed an extension with the Rams.

By Bryan Kilpatrick@purplerowBK Apr 11, 2013, 11:27pm EDT

Rhode Island Rams head basketball coach Danny Hurley rejected an offer to become the next head coach at Rutgers on Wednesday and signed a contract extension that will keep him in Kingston until the 2019-20 season, according to ESPN's Andy Katz.

For more on Rhode Island basketball, head over to Mid-Major Madness.

Hurley, a native of New Jersey, was offered a five-year, $5 million contract from Rutgers on Monday while Rhode Island was already in the process of working on an extension. He accepted the job at Rhode Island last year after previously serving as the head coach at Wagner.

The Rams went 8-21 in Hurley's first year, but the program is in rebuilding mode and is making strides to improve the situation, Hurley told radio show host Ian O'Connor on Sunday:

"I want to be in a position where I can take a program to the highest levels of college basketball, and the commitment that I think we're on the verge of making at Rhode Island, and with all the recruiting and the level we're going to coach guys at, I'm really excited to be there and want to be there."

Hurley's decision leaves Rutgers, which fired former head coach Mike Rice last week after he was shown on video physically and verbally abusing players, still in limbo. The school is concerned about more players leaving the program if the coaching position isn't filled soon, sources told Katz.