One year after turning down the opportunity to take over the Wagner men’s basketball program, Bobby Hurley has decided he’s ready to run his own show.
The former Duke and St. Anthony of Jersey City star was formally introduced Tuesday as the head coach at the University of Buffalo.
“There are great expectations here,” said Hurley, who reportedly signed a five-year contract. “I’m ready to meet them head on. I really am tremendously excited for this opportunity.”
Hurley, a legendary prep standout at St. Anthony under Hall of Fame coach and father Bob Hurley Sr., was an assistant this year with his brother Dan Hurley at Rhode Island after a year at Wagner in the same position.
A two-year national champion at Duke and NBA point guard, Hurley got into coaching three years ago, joining his brother’s staff at Wagner after a previous career as a racehorse breeder and owner. When Dan left to take the job at Rhode Island, Wagner offered his position to Bobby, but he declined.
“I never looked at it like I was in a rush to be a head coach,” he said. “Last week, I was locked in to be an assistant coach at Rhode Island. I felt like I was ready, if the right opportunity presented itself.”
He took to the job quickly, emerging as a top-notch recruiter and had a major hand in Rhode Island landing Staten Island star Hassan Martin and highly rated Detroit guard E.C. Matthews.
At Buffalo, he replaces Reggie Witherspoon, who was 198-228 in his 14-year tenure. The Bulls were 14-20 this season, 7-9 in the MAC and lost to Kent State in the quarterfinals of the conference tournament.