ASU basketball coach Bobby Hurley gets two-year contract extension

Some wondered if Bobby Hurley would be around to fulfill the last year of his contract. The speculation can now end as the coach has been granted a two-year extension, pending board approval. That would keep him in Tempe through 2026.

Hurley, 51, boasts a head coaching record of 141-113. His team won 20 games or more four times including the past season, one in which the Sun Devils were 23-13.

ASU placed fifth in the Pac-12, two spots higher than projected in the coach's preseason poll and four better than they were picked in one national publication.

There had been speculation that Hurley might look elsewhere, with his name most recently linked to the opening at Providence, which would have returned him to his East Coast roots.

"Coach Hurley has made our program relevant nationally with many significant wins and an exciting style, along with a firm commitment to the academic success of our student-athletes," Athletic Director Ray Anderson said in the school's press release. "He has made it clear to us that he wants to be here and we have done likewise with him. We share a strong confidence in the present and future state of Sun Devil men's basketball."The Sun Devils qualified for the NCAA postseason but were relegated to a play-in game against Nevada in Dayton. ASU won that one 98-73 to advance to the first round as the No. 11 seed. There ASU lost to No. 6 TCU 72-70 in a game in which it led most of the game.

Bobby Hurley extension reaction: Arizona State basketball coach 'definitely deserves it'

The results the past season marked a resurgence of sorts. ASU was just 14-17 the past season and 11-14 in the 2020-21 season, with that one impacted not only by COVID-19, but by injuries. That squad came in with lofty expectations because of two prospects that were regarded as one-and-dones in Josh Christopher an Marcus Bagley but never found its footing. There were several games in which only seven scholarship players were available.

While the previous two seasons were a disappointment, Hurley had the Sun Devils on a good trajectory before that. Had the 2020 postseason not been canceled, ASU would have had a third straight trip to the NCAA postseason, something that hadn't been done at the school since 1980-81. That marked the third straight 20-win season.

His NCAA tournament win over St. John's in 2019 was the first for the school since 2009.

Hurley upgraded his team's non-conference schedule, most notably playing — and winning both games of — a home-home series with Kansas.

Hurley has also achieved success despite playing in one of the Pac-12's oldest venues. Desert Financial Arena is now 49 years old and is showing that age and there hasn't been any indication that plans are in motion for any upgrade or renovation.

The players like Hurley. Two weeks ago Devan Cambridge was asked about whether or not he planned to use his extra season of eligibility and return. His response was that he would like to play another year for Hurley. Of the six scholarship players honored on "Senior Day," only two — Desmond Cambridge Jr. and reserve guard Luther Muhammad — are out of eligibility. Starters Warren Washington, Devan Cambridge, D.J. Horne and reserves Alonzo Gaffney can return if they want.

True freshman Austin Nunez and Duke Brennan have shown potential and Hurley has two four-star recruits — shooting guard Braelon Green and forward Akil Watson — coming in the fall.

"It's an honor to continue my journey as the head basketball coach at Arizona State University," Hurley said, in the same release. "I want to thank Dr. Crow and Ray Anderson for their commitment to our program and trust in my leadership. I'm looking forward to building off our success this season and taking the program to greater heights in the future."

Hurley came to ASU in 2015 after two seasons heading the program at Buffalo where his teams were a combined 42-20.

He had a storied paying career at Duke (1989-1993), winning national titles in 1991 and 1992, earning Final Four Most Outstanding Player honors in 1992. He still holds the NCAA career record for assists (1,076).

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona State gives basketball coach Bobby Hurley 2-year extension