Arizona State Fires Basketball Coach Bobby Hurley After 11 Seasons

Hurley led the Sun Devils to three NCAA Tournament appearances but failed to advance past the first round.

Published on Mar. 12, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Arizona State University has announced that they will not be renewing the contract of head basketball coach Bobby Hurley after 11 seasons with the program. Hurley, who was the NCAA's all-time assists leader as a player at Duke, guided the Sun Devils to three NCAA Tournament appearances but was unable to lead the team past the first round during his tenure.

Why it matters

Hurley's dismissal marks the end of an era for Arizona State basketball, as he was one of the more high-profile hires the program has made in recent memory. His departure raises questions about the direction of the Sun Devils' program and the expectations placed on coaches to consistently make the NCAA Tournament and advance deep into the postseason.

The details

Arizona State athletic director Graham Rossini announced on Wednesday that Hurley's contract will not be renewed after the Sun Devils were blown out 91-42 by Iowa State in the second round of the Big 12 tournament. Hurley leaves as Arizona State's second-winningest coach with a 185-167 record, though the team failed to finish higher than 11th in the Big 12 this season and missed the NCAA Tournament in three of the last four years.

  • On March 3, Hurley coached his final home game at Arizona State, an upset win over No. 14 Kansas.
  • On March 9, Arizona State lost 91-42 to No. 7 Iowa State in the second round of the Big 12 tournament.
  • On March 12, Arizona State announced that Hurley's contract will not be renewed after 11 seasons as head coach.

The players

Bobby Hurley

The former NCAA assists leader who spent 11 seasons as the head coach of the Arizona State Sun Devils, leading the team to three NCAA Tournament appearances but never advancing past the first round.

Graham Rossini

The athletic director at Arizona State University who announced that Hurley's contract will not be renewed after the 2022-23 season.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Bobby Hurley has made incredible contributions to the sport of basketball, and that certainly includes many memorable moments during his time as our head coach. 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, Athletic Director, Arizona State University (statenews.net)

What’s next

Arizona State will now begin a search for a new head basketball coach to lead the program moving forward.

The takeaway

Hurley's dismissal after 11 seasons highlights the high expectations and pressure placed on high-profile college basketball coaches to consistently make the NCAA Tournament and advance deep into the postseason. Arizona State will now look to hire a new coach who can revitalize the program and return it to the national spotlight.