TEMPE, Ariz.
After turning around Buffalo's basketball program in two seasons, Bobby Hurley's next challenge will be to raise Arizona State's program from fair-to- middling to consistent challenger for a Pac-12 championship.
Hurley's hiring was announced Thursday by vice president of athletics Ray Anderson.
"Our purpose is to mold championship-caliber young men on the court, in the classroom and around the community," Hurley said in a prepared statement. "We are here to set a new standard, to make regular trips to the NCAA tournament, and regularly compete for conference and national titles."
Hurley is a former star point guard at NCAA champion Duke who came onto ASU's radar by taking Buffalo to its first Mid-American Conference title and NCAA tournament berth in 2015. He led Buffalo to 42 wins in his two seasons there, including 23 this season, and he mentored back-to-back MAC players of the year.
A son of legendary Jersey City (N.J.) St. Anthony's High coach Bob Hurley Sr., Hurley was the point guard on Duke's 1991-92 national championship teams and was a four-year starter for Mike Krzyzewski. Bob Sr. is a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, and Hurley's brother Dan is the coach at Rhode Island.
Hurley replaces Herb Sendek, who led ASU to five 20-win seasons in nine years but only twice took the Sun Devils to the NCAA tournament.
"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," Anderson said.
"Bobby is energetic, passionate and tough, and his contagious competitive fire will bring unmatched vigor to our men's basketball program. A teacher, first and foremost, he is a proven winner as both a player and a coach, and understands the steps it takes to be a champion."
The Sun Devils appeared to have settled on Duke assistant coach Jeff Capel as the successor to Sendek, biding their time while the Blue Devils completed their run to the NCAA title with a victory over Wisconsin on Monday night. Capel, however, turned the Sun Devils down shortly thereafter.
Anderson, when dismissing Sendek, said he expected the Sun Devils to be regulars in the hunt for Pac-12 titles and NCAA tournament berth. He also said he expected ASU to keep the best in-state recruits at home. Corona Del Sol High freshman center Marvin Bagley III and sophomore guard Alex Barcello are considered national-level recruits. Bagley, 6-foot-11, is the grandson of former ASU standout and NBA player Joe Caldwell. Barcello has been offered scholarships by Arizona and Virginia but is not believed to have committed.
Hurley issued a statement Thursday afternoon that read in part:
"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."
Hurley, 43, led Duke to three Final Four appearances in four years, was named the Most Outstanding Player in the 1992 NCAA Final four and was a a first-team All-American in 1993. He is the NCAA career-record holder for assists with 1,076.
He was the seventh player taken in the 1993 NBA draft by Sacramento and played five seasons in the NBA before retiring to enter the horse-breeding business. He returned to the NBA as a scout for the Philadelphia 76ers in 2003 and became an assistant coach at Wagner under his brother Dan in 2010. He moved with Dan to Rhode Island in 2012 before being hired as Buffalo's head coach on March 26, 2013.
