UConn Coach Dan Hurley Has Refreshing NIL Take: 'Win For Our Donors?'

In this new world of Name, Image & Likeness and the NCAA Transfer Portal in college athletics, everything is geared toward the "student"-athletes.

They have no contracts, so they can leave a program virtually on a moment's notice for no particular reason and be eligible immediately for the next season. They can make hundreds of thousands of dollars or millions in addition to free scholarships, room and board and medical care.

But they also better produce, or coaches will replace them faster than ever before and see to it that an incoming transfer or recruit is paid even more money. That's the other end of the portal and NIL.

UConn center Donovan Clingan (left) and his coach Dan Hurley speak at a Final Four press conference Friday in Glendale, Arizona. (Getty Images)

Connecticut coach Dan Hurley put it best at a press conference Friday, leading into this Final Four game Saturday night. The No. 1 seed Huskies (35-3) play No. 4 seed Alabama (25-11) at 8:30 p.m. on TBS. The winner advances to the national championship game Monday night against the winner of Saturday's early game between No. 1 seed Purdue (33-4) and No. 11 seed North Carolina State (26-14). 

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"I'll say this, the last two years since NIL started, I've coached my teams harder than I've coached any teams," Hurley said. "Just because of everything that these guys now have at their disposal."

Show The Donors The Return On Their NIL Money

In other words, the players have not only been shown the money, they're getting it like never before, so they better earn it more than ever.

"And they have a responsibility to work harder and to represent UConn," said the fiery Hurley, who had no NIL cash coming in when he played point guard at Seton Hall from 1991-96. In fact, he sounded a little angry.

"They have a responsibility to fight their absolute ass off to win games for our donors, our fans, the university, because of everything that they get, that the past players didn't get," he said.

"Let's win one for the donors," somehow doesn't sound as pure as "Win one for the Gipper." Or, "Win one for your school and your family." But that is college athletics now.

"The resources that the University of Connecticut and programs now invest in these players is not for their attendance," Hurley said. "It's not just to be on campus."

He didn't say it, but it's also not just for a free education.

UConn center Donovan Clingan (32) drives to the goal against Illinois in the Elite Eight last week at TD Garden in Boston. (Getty Images)

UConn's Donovan Clingan Pulling In NIL Money

UConn 7-foot-2 sophomore center Donovan Clingan, for example, makes close to $1 million dollars in NIL earnings with Ritz snack crackers, Panini America collectibles, and celebrity Kim Kardashian's underwear and lounge wear line called SKIMS.

"It's to produce and to produce winning," Hurley said.

Clingan so far is earning his money. He averages 12.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.2 blocks and 1.6 assists for the Huskies.

"The way we travel, the residence, the full-service dining we have in our $40 million-plus practice facility, the NIL opportunities," Hurley said, "I coach the hell out of these guys because of everything that they get."