Arizona State predicted to replace Bobby Hurley with $1M Coach of the Year, Bob Huggins protégé

The Arizona State Sun Devils saw a coaching change on the women’s side last season, and now it appears the men’s program is next. Current head coach Bobby Hurley believes the writing has been on the wall for some time.

“I think they understand the writing on the wall,” Hurley said [h/t Inferno Intel's Adam Kunin]. “There's not, like, a lot of discussions about it, but I could assume they would have an idea.”

On Monday, it became clear that Hurley is likely to be fired once his team is eliminated from the Big 12 Tournament.

“The Sun Devils are expected to part ways Hurley at the end of the season, according to The Field of 68’s Jeff Goodman. Arizona State holds a 16-15 record this season and will take on Baylor in the first round of the Big 12 tournament on Wednesday in Kansas City, Missouri. As the Sun Devils are well out of contention to make it to the NCAA tournament, Hurley’s tenure at Arizona State will end once it has been knocked out of the Big 12 tournament,” Yahoo Sports’ Ryan Young wrote.

Speculation is already circulating about who could replace Hurley, and one possible candidate is current Utah State head coach Jerrod Calhoun.

“Thanks to some brilliant work already in his own career, Calhoun is a rising name in coaching circles who is honestly due for a power conference job very soon. A former student assistant and staffer under Bob Huggins, Calhoun had head coaching success at Fairmont State, with a few D2 Tourney trips, and in turning around the program at Youngstown State. He’s won 51 games since taking Utah State’s top job two offseasons ago and has shown with the Aggies that he’s ready for that next step and it’s all about if the Sun Devils are the right fit for both sides,” Busting Brackets’ Joey Loose wrote.

Calhoun has quickly risen through the coaching ranks after working under Bob Huggins for several seasons. He’s had tremendous success at Utah State and could replicate it at Arizona State.

The Sun Devils are ready for a fresh face in the program, and Calhoun would be a strong addition following Hurley’s departure. While Hurley’s firing is disappointing for some, it appears change is coming to Tempe.