Arizona State Makes Decision on Bobby Hurley’s Future

Bobby Hurley’s Tenure

Hurley arrived in Tempe in 2015 with significant expectations. A former Duke star and national champion under Mike Krzyzewski, Hurley had quickly built a reputation as an up-and-coming coach after turning Buffalo into an NCAA Tournament team.

During his 11 seasons at Arizona State, Hurley guided the Sun Devils to three NCAA Tournament appearances and helped the program maintain consistent national relevance, particularly early in his tenure. His teams were known for their aggressive style of play and strong guard development.

However, sustained success proved difficult to maintain.

Arizona State reached the NCAA Tournament in 2018, 2019 and 2023, but the program struggled to consistently compete at the top of the Pac-12 and later the Big 12. Over the past several seasons, the Sun Devils hovered around the bubble and often found themselves battling just to reach postseason play.

The program’s transition into the Big 12 last season brought even greater challenges. Facing one of the deepest conferences in college basketball, Arizona State went 11-27 the last two seasons in league play.

While Hurley’s tenure had moments of promise — including marquee nonconference wins and multiple NCAA appearances — the program never broke through to become a consistent contender. Arizona State also failed to advance past the First Four or opening round in most of its NCAA Tournament trips during his time leading the program.

Athletic director Graham Rossini now faces the task of finding a new leader for the program as Arizona State looks to establish itself in the ultra-competitive Big 12. Now, Arizona State begins a new chapter — one that will require navigating the challenges of the Big 12 while attempting to elevate the Sun Devils into a consistent contender.

Hurley went 185–167 during his time leading the program.