Tempe, Ariz. ? At first glance, it might be hard to understand why Herb Sendek would leave North Carolina State to take over Arizona State’s men’s basketball team.

He’s moving from a storied Tobacco Road program with two NCAA championships to a school better known for its success in football and baseball. But as Sendek was introduced as the Sun Devils’ new coach Monday, he said the timing was right for him to build a winning tradition at ASU.

“I see great potential here,” Sendek said. “It makes you say, ‘Hey, wait a minute, what’s possible here?”‘

The 43-year-old Sendek received a five-year deal, athletic director Lisa Love said. She would not disclose his salary.

Sendek said he did not consider his job change unusual. He cited Arizona coach Lute Olson’s midcareer move from Iowa to Arizona, which he transformed from a lightly regarded program to a national powerhouse, winning the national title in 1997.

“Not that I’m trying to put myself on the same plateau as coach Olson, but it struck me that he was very successful at Iowa, a well-established program in the Big Ten, and he made a quantum leap to Arizona at a similar stage in his career,” Sendek said.

Asked if Sendek might become “the next Lute,” Love replied, “No. He’s going to be our next Herb.”

The Sun Devils have been looking for a coach since March 10, when Love announced that Rob Evans would not return. Love met with at least eight candidates but said Sendek was “my very, very first choice.”

Sendek was 191-132 at North Carolina State.