Former ASU men's basketball coach Herb Sendek spoke publicly for the first time since his firing March 24, releasing a letter Thursday addressed to the Sun Devil fans to Doug Haller of azcentral sports.
Sendek has not spoken to members of the media since his firing, turning down all requests.
In the letter, Sendek discussed the pride he had for his former players, particularly last season when the Sun Devils went 18-16 (9-9 in Pac-12) with a young, inexperienced roster.
"We stand together proud that our players have met the most critical standard we asked of them — to be respectful young men, qualified to earn their way in the world," Sendek said in the letter. "Along the way, our young men also managed to have some terrific accomplishments on the court, as well."
Sendek spoke fondly of his former players and assistant coaches, calling them "family."
"These young men, and our assistant coaches, who helped me find and teach them, are like family to me," he said in the letter.
Sendek went 159-137 in nine seasons as head coach of ASU men's basketball, taking the Sun Devils to two NCAA Tournaments (1-2 record) and four NITs (4-4 record).
While often criticized for his struggles in recruiting and winning on the road, Sendek spoke out in saying that winning often relies on the community around a program.
"It takes a community to win in sports today," Sendek said in the letter. "Thank you to those who helped me build a community during my time here. It is my hope that you will continue your efforts to build the depth and breadth of that community support and help your next coach reach the expectations we all have for this program."
For the full letter from Sendek, click here.
Reach the assistant sports editor at fardaya@asu.edu or follow @fardaya15 on Twitter.
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