Bobby Hurley era likely coming to an end at ASU
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Sun Devils men's basketball coach Bobby Hurley. Photo: Bruce Yeung/Getty Images
After 11 years leading ASU men's basketball, Bobby Hurley's time in Tempe appears to be coming to an end.
State of play: Hurley's contract expires at the end of this season, and it's widely expected that it won't be extended.
The latest: The Sun Devils' final regular-season game is Saturday on the road against No. 6 Iowa State.
- Barring an unexpected run to the Big 12 championship — which would earn the Sun Devils a spot in March Madness — ASU's season will likely end in the conference tournament that begins March 11.
1 big finale: The Sun Devils beat No. 14 Kansas on Tuesday, with fans storming the court at Desert Financial Arena after what was likely Hurley's final home game in Tempe.
What they're saying: "He is the greatest coach that's ever coached me," Sun Devils guard Moe Odum said after the Kansas game. "I'd go to war with him anytime. I don't care what anybody says."
Catch up quick: After a short and successful stint as Buffalo's head coach, ASU hired the fiery former Duke star in 2015.
- Hurley generated a lot of early buzz and had his share of successes, taking the Sun Devils to the NCAA tournament in 2018 and 2019 — the school's first back-to-back March Madness appearances in nearly 40 years.
- But he's only had three tournament appearances in 11 years, most recently in 2023.
- He ended the past two seasons with losing records.
The bottom line: Hurley's tenure in Tempe may not have ended the way he or Sun Devils fans would've liked, but he was one of the most successful ASU coaches.
- His three tournament appearances are the second-most of any head coach in ASU history, behind only Ned Wulk. Wulk took the Sun Devils to the dance nine times in his 25 years with the program, which ended in 1982.
- And Hurley has the second-most wins of any ASU coach — again behind Wulk — a total that stands at 184.