The Arizona State Sun Devils didn’t want to take any chances that head coach Bobby Hurley might leave for another program.
The university announced Tuesday night it has extended Hurley’s contract. Chris Karpman of SunDevilSource.com reported the extension for the men’s basketball coach is through 2026.
Financial terms of the contract for the 51-year-old Hurley were not disclosed.
Staying in Tempe 😈
Bobby Hurley has agreed to a contract extension with @SunDevilHoops 🔱 pic.twitter.com/JbmdqmC4Qr
— Sun Devil MBB (@SunDevilHoops) March 22, 2023
The Sun Devils finished 23-13 this season, although their First Four exit from the NCAA Tournament stung. It led Hurley critics to question whether he had taken the program as far as he could. The Arizona Republic’s Greg Moore even wrote a recent column with a title that gets right to the point: “Arizona State should fire Bobby Hurley after NCAA Tournament.”
Moore went on to note, “Do you overlook the reality that the former point guard and coach’s son wouldn’t recognize X’s and O’s if they were at the end of a love letter? Or the fact that his squads can never seem to shoot? Or the risk that the guy gets so intense at times it looks like he’s going to have an aneurysm screaming about a foul call with 12 minutes to go in the first half of a non-conference game against East Middle North Central State University in November?”
While the former Duke All-American has his critics, he’s got plenty of fans. He’s done a respectable job at ASU. In eight seasons, Hurley is 141-113, with three NCAA Tournament appearances.
College basketball and Sun Devils fans had mixed feelings on Arizona State extending Hurley.
I’m investing a comment into this tweet because it’s about to blow up!
— Mat Sherman (@Mat_Sherman) March 22, 2023
Great news. Let’s it keep it going!
— Joey Artigue (@Joey_Artigue) March 22, 2023
Would’ve loved him at Providence, but love his extension too. One of my favorite players of all-time, as well as coach.
— ★Dazmond Ralley★ (@FuelKatz) March 22, 2023
Huge!!!
— TC (@ThecoachTcTc) March 22, 2023
Where was Hurley going to go?
— PhilBuehler (@PhilbuehlerPhil) March 22, 2023
I speculated he wasn’t happy here because of his bosses and would sit a year till the right job for him would open.
— #1 ASU FAN (@real_asu_fan) March 22, 2023
Welp, Hurley is not particularly good, but ASU will not do better. Certainly not with Crow and Anderson still there.
— bmaz ( @bmaz@mstdn.social ) (@bmaz) March 22, 2023
[Arizona State Sun Devils; Chris Karpman, SunDevilSource.com]
