The Way It Is: Hurley extension a pivotal moment for Ray Anderson, ASU

(Photo: Brady Klain/WCSN)

(Photo: Brady Klain/WCSN)

It pays to build a winning culture in college basketball. Just ask Bobby Hurley.

Reports from SunDevilSource and azcentral sports indicate that Hurley, in his third year at the helm of ASU men’s basketball, is set to receive a major pay raise and contract extension. Pending approval from the Arizona Board of Regents, Hurley’s salary will increase from $1.4 million to $2.1 million beginning in 2018, and his current contract will be extended an additional year through 2023.

It’s a well-deserved reward for Hurley’s achievements this season. More than that, it’s a statement from Athletic Director Ray Anderson that he’s serious about keeping Hurley around for the long haul.

Critics rightfully questioned Anderson’s decision to fire former football coach Todd Graham and replace him with Herm Edwards. I was among those who strongly disagreed with the move, cutthroat and corporate as it was.

I won’t hesitate to give credit where it’s due here. This is a major victory for Anderson — a defining moment in his tenure at ASU. Hiring Hurley in 2015 was a smart move, but locking him up long-term without drama or delay? That’s the kind of business savvy the Sun Devils need.

ASU’s blistering 12-0 start brought on rumors of Hurley’s potential departure, but he always maintained his commitment to the program and expressed a desire to extend his contract. With blue blood vultures circling, Anderson swooped in and signed his coach to an insurance policy.

The proposed contract includes stiff penalties that Hurley would have to pay if he left for another school — $8 million over four years — and an enticing retention bonus of $1 million if he sticks around through 2022. It’s reminiscent of the contract that Oregon football coach Mario Cristobal signed in the wake of Willie Taggart’s exit.

Anderson knows that college basketball is just as much of a business as college football. He’s intent on running his entire athletic department like one, leaving his fingerprints on programs that ascend the corporate and competitive ladders. It seems less likely to work out in football, but men’s basketball is steadily climbing the rungs.

Right now, the Sun Devils (16-5, 4-5 Pac-12) are ranked No. 25 in the country and slumping a bit after an impressive non-conference run. That doesn’t diminish their previous No. 3 ranking — tied for the highest in school history — or their upset wins over Xavier and Kansas. This season was the turning point for Hurley and company, making the contract decision all the more imperative for Anderson and ASU President Michael Crow.

Hurley didn’t just earn his money on that momentous trip to Allen Fieldhouse, though. He’s landing top recruits in all four upcoming classes, including four-star prospects Luguentz Dort and Taeshon Cherry from the 2018 class. Given the success of Hurley recruits like Remy Martin and Romello White, it’s hard to imagine Cherry and Dort not making an immediate impact.

Four-star guard Jaelen House — former ASU star Eddie’s son — is coming in 2019. Five-star forward Kyree Walker is on his way in 2020. If ASU continues its rise toward national relevance, those guys won’t be arriving alone.

This is Bobby Hurley’s basketball program. Now that he’s inked a new deal and settled himself in Tempe for the foreseeable future, Anderson’s likely expectation is that ASU is on the verge of elite status.

A winning culture is established in living rooms and NCAA tournaments. It’s cemented with a signature on the dotted line.

Editor’s note: The Way It Is Column is a rotating column among WCSN reporters, writers and editors analyzing Arizona State athletics. Follow each new edition of the column at cronkitesports.com/category/columns.