ASU’s Ray Anderson releases statement regarding the hiring of Bobby Hurley

Thursday, word came out that Arizona State had tabbed Bobby Hurley to be its new men’s basketball coach.

Shortly after the news broke, ASU released a statement from vice president for university athletics Ray Anderson.

Here it is:

I am thrilled to announce Bobby Hurley as the new head men’s basketball coach at Arizona State University.

We conducted an exhaustive search and after numerous discussions with many of basketball’s most knowledgeable and respected individuals, one thing became clear: Bobby is the right person to lead this program to new heights.

We have a leader who, along with our university and our community, is committed to helping Sun Devil Basketball thrive. With Bobby at the helm, we will provide the necessary resources to compete within our state, our conference and across the nation. We are intent on becoming an elite men’s basketball program.

Bobby is energetic, passionate and tough, and his contagious competitive fire will bring unmatched vigor to our men’s basketball program. A teacher, first and foremost, he is a proven winner as both a player and a coach, and understands the steps it takes to be a champion.

Bobby Hurley epitomizes basketball excellence, with a keen knowledge of the game that stems from his lifelong involvement in the sport. His childhood consisted of watching the defining moments of the NCAA Tournament; his high school days included a 115-5 record on the court and four state titles; and his college career, with an excellence exemplified by two national championships and his No. 11 jersey hanging in the rafters at Cameron Indoor.

There are a number of characteristics that define not just great leaders, but also gifted mentors of young people. Bobby’s passion for coaching comes from his father, Bob, Sr., a legendary New Jersey high school coach and a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The deep appreciation he has for family was reflected in three years working with his brother, Dan, currently the head coach at Rhode Island. His five-year playing career in the National Basketball Association and experience as an NBA scout positions him to help our student-athletes realize what it takes to reach the next level. The high standard he puts on character and academics echoes the dedication we have to furthering our rich history of Pac-12 Scholar-Athletes and Academic All-Americans. And he welcomes the challenge and opportunity that lay ahead in building affinity around our men’s basketball program.

Bobby made history in just two seasons as the head coach at the University of Buffalo, where he led the men’s basketball program to its first-ever Mid-American Conference Title and NCAA Tournament berth. His 42 wins at Buffalo were themost ever for a head coach through their first two seasons, including a record-tying 23 wins in 2014-15, and he mentored back-to-back MAC Players of the Year and two Associated Press Honorable Mention All-Americans. He was a finalist for the 2015 Hugh Durham National Coach of the Year Award, given to the nation’s top Mid-Major Coach, and a finalist for the 2014 Joe B. Hall Award, given to the nation’s top first year head coach.

Bobby’s resume as a collegiate player is extraordinary. He was the point guard for Duke University from 1989-93, one of the greatest college basketball teams in history, and helped the Blue Devils reach three Final Fours and win consecutive national championships in 1991 and 1992. He was a First-Team All-American, the Final Four Most Outstanding Player, and his 1,076 career assists still stand as a NCAA record.

On behalf of our entire community, we welcome Bobby, his wife, Leslie, and their three children, Cameron, Sydney, and Bobby, into the Sun Devil Family.

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