Bobby Hurley out at Arizona State after 11 seasons as March Madness drought continues

The school announced Hurley's contract will not be renewed after the Sun Devils were knocked out of the Big 12 tournament.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 3:27am

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Bobby Hurley's 11-year tenure as head coach of the Arizona State Sun Devils men's basketball team has come to an end. The school announced that Hurley's contract will not be renewed after the team was eliminated from the Big 12 tournament. Hurley led the Sun Devils to three NCAA Tournament appearances during his time, but the team has struggled over the past three seasons, going a combined 44-54.

Why it matters

Hurley was a well-respected coach who had been with the program for over a decade. His departure marks the end of an era for Arizona State basketball and raises questions about the direction of the program going forward as it continues to search for its first NCAA Tournament win since 2019.

The details

Arizona State athletic director Graham Rossini said in a statement that Hurley had 'made incredible contributions to the sport of basketball,' during his 11 years leading the Sun Devils. Hurley finished his tenure with a 185-167 overall record, making him the second-winningest coach in ASU men's basketball history behind Ned Wulk. However, the team has struggled in recent years, going just 44-54 over the past three seasons and 19-39 against Big 12 opponents during that span.

  • On March 10, 2026, Arizona State was eliminated from the Big 12 tournament by Iowa State.
  • On March 11, 2026, Arizona State announced that Hurley's contract would not be renewed.

The players

Bobby Hurley

The former head coach of the Arizona State Sun Devils men's basketball team, who spent 11 seasons with the program.

Graham Rossini

The athletic director of Arizona State University.

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What they’re saying

“While we will not be extending his contract, we are so grateful for the 11 years that Coach, Leslie, Cameron, Sydney, Bobby Jr., and he spent with us at ASU. We wish Coach well moving forward and we are thankful for his leadership while at ASU.”

— Graham Rossini, Arizona State Athletic Director

“It's been a long road. It's been a special time. Two of my kids graduated from ASU. I've had the opportunity to coach some fantastic young men, and have had some terrific moments over the years. It's a great university, great administration, the president, and I'm not sure what's going to happen because I don't know. I haven't spoken directly about my future next year to this point, but I don't have any regrets. I laid it out on the line to the best that I could every night.”

— Bobby Hurley (Arizona Republic)

“Throughout this journey, my family and I formed lasting friendships and created incredible memories. We experienced multiple NCAA Tournament appearances, remarkable wins at Desert Financial Arena, and the joy of watching our children become Sun Devil alumni. To all the players — thank you. It has been my greatest privilege to coach so many outstanding young men, and I will always treasure our time together.”

— Bobby Hurley (X)

What’s next

The Arizona State men's basketball program will now begin the search for a new head coach to lead the team going forward.

The takeaway

Bobby Hurley's departure from Arizona State marks the end of an era for the Sun Devils' basketball program. While Hurley had some success, including three NCAA Tournament appearances, the team's struggles in recent years ultimately led to his dismissal. Arizona State now faces the challenge of finding a new coach who can revive the program and end its March Madness drought.