Former Buffalo coach Bobby Hurley is the new head coach at Arizona State and will be introduced at a press conference on Friday morning.
“While it was an extremely difficult decision to move on from my team in Buffalo, this is a tremendous opportunity and I want to thank Mr. Anderson and Dr. Crow for selecting me as the leader of the ASU men’s basketball program,” Hurley said in a statement.
“To the 942 Crew: You are pioneers and are truly special, so thank you for changing the way students participate in the game with the Curtain of Distraction. To the fans: Our passion, enthusiasm and energy will breed a culture you will be proud to support. To all of our former players: You are the lifeblood of the program and one of my primary objectives will be to engage you and bring you back home. With our fast-paced and aggressive style of play, we are going to make Sun Devil Basketball a destination for in-state, national, and international basketball talent.”
“I am thrilled to announce Bobby Hurley as the new head men’s basketball coach at Arizona State University,” said Ray Anderson, ASU Vice President for University Athletics.
“We conducted an exhaustive search and after numerous discussions with many of basketball’s most knowledgeable and respected individuals, one thing became clear: Bobby is the right person to lead this program to new heights.
“We have a leader who, along with our university and our community, is committed to helping Sun Devil Basketball thrive. With Bobby at the helm, we will provide the necessary resources to compete within our state, our conference and across the nation. We are intent on becoming an elite men’s basketball program.”
Hurley also recently interviewed for the DePaul job, which ultimately went to Dave Leitao. The Arizona State job came open after Herb Sendek was fired March 24.
According to a report from the Buffalo News, Hurley, 43, recently became the highest-paid coach in the Mid-American Conference – surpassing Ohio’s Saul Phillips, who makes $550,000 annually. The deal, which sources said Hurley “partially agreed to,” would also include a contract extension beyond his current deal, which goes through 2018-19.
Hurley reportedly made $300,000, plus a percentage of the gate.
Hurley, 43, led Duke to back-to-back NCAA championships in the early 1990s, but has only been a head coach for two years following stints as an assistant under his brother, Danny, at both Wagner and Rhode Island. He is 42-20 in two years at Buffalo.
His stock skyrocketed after he led the Bulls to the MAC Tournament title and a bid to the NCAA Tournament, where they pushed West Virginia in the Round of 64 before losing, 68-62.
