New ASU coach Hurley is no Mr. Bland
Arizona State athletic director Ray Anderson went 4 for 4 in replacing basketball coach Herb Sendek with Bobby Hurley.
One, he was able to maintain fiscal sanity and get a low-bidder; Hurley signed for an estimated $1.2 million, which should keep Sun Devils football coach Todd Graham happy.
Two, he did not waste $250,000 by hiring a search firm. Anderson gets a lot of respect for marshaling the process and getting his man. Additionally, Anderson got a man 180 degrees different from his predecessor, the professorial Sendek, Mr. Bland.
Three, he did not go to the discount aisle and get a retread like former UCLA coach Ben Howland.
Four, in a thin season for coaching hires — only new Texas coach Shaka Smart of VCU and Wichita State’s Gregg Marshall were considered hot, must-get candidates — the Sun Devils hired a recognizable name with a considerable ceiling. The Pac-12 benefits, too.
Duke assistant Jeff Capel would’ve produced yawns had he been hired by ASU. Hurley creates expectations and excitement, if not a brand.
“Fire in the belly,” is the way Hurley described himself Friday.
Hurley’s building job in Tempe isn’t overwhelming. He actually inherits a roster superior to the one Sean Miller was handed in April 2009.
Miller’s eight returning players given him were D.J. Shumpert, Alex Jacobson, Jamelle Horne, Kyle Fogg, Brendon Lavender, Nic Wise and Garland Judkins.
It was clear during Hurley’s press conference that he still wears a Duke national championship ring on his right hand.
That ring got him hired at Arizona State.
“This is a destination job for me,” he said.
If so, that ring will soon disappear.
