Reports: NIU to hire ASU assistant Rashon Burno as head coach
Mar 6, 2021, 8:47 AM | Updated: 7:11 pm
Arizona State coach Bobby Hurley, right argues with a referee as Arizona State associated head coach Rashon Burno, second from left, and another referee listen during the first half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against San Diego State on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Current Arizona State associate men’s basketball coach Rashon Burno has landed his first head coaching job.
Burno, who joined head coach Bobby Hurley’s staff in 2015 after spending three years as an assistant coach at the University of Florida, will become the new head coach at Northern Illinois University, according to multiple media reports.
Northern Illinois will hire Arizona State assistant Rashon Burno as its head coach, source told @Stadium
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) March 6, 2021
Arizona State associate head coach Rashon Burno has accepted the head-coaching job at Northern Illinois. Official announcement should come soon.
Burno has been Bobby Hurley's right-hand man over the last six seasons and has had a big hand in shaping the roster.
— Doug Haller (@DougHaller) March 6, 2021
BREAKING: Per sources, #NIU set to hire Arizona State associate head coach Rashon Burno as its next head basketball coach. https://t.co/I3rFviN2Vs
— Joe Henricksen (@joehoopsreport) March 6, 2021
He replaces Mark Montgomery, who was fired by the Huskies after going 124-170 in 10 seasons with the program.
“I am so proud and I’ve been so fortunate to spend six great years with coach Burno and his family,” ASU head coach Bobby Hurley said via Zoom on Saturday. “And what a job he’s done for this program and being such a significant part of three 20-win seasons, NCAA Tournament appearances and puts his heart and soul into his job.
“Northern Illinois is very blessed and very fortunate to have him leading their program. I’m so proud of him, I’m so happy for him and his family and he’s going to be a major success at Northern Illinois.”
Burno has had a major impact on the Sun Devils’ recruiting over the past half-decade, helping ASU land prized recruits like Josh Christopher, Marcus Bagley and Alonzo Verge.
Burno played college basketball in the Windy City, averaging 5.2 points per game during his four seasons with the Blue Demons between 1998 and 2002.
Prior to working under then-Florida head coach Billy Donovan, Burno served as an assistant coach at Manhattan College and Towson University.
