After retiring from the playing side of the sport in 2008, he became joint manager with former teammate Rob Scott at Ilkeston Town, then Boston United before joining Grimsby Town in 2011. In the 2015–16 National League, he led Grimsby to promotion via the play-offs. Hurst moved on to become manager of Shrewsbury Town in October 2016, and saved the club from relegation from League One in his first season, while taking them to the EFL Trophy and League One play-off finals in 2018. He left to join Ipswich Town in May 2018, but was sacked in October after a poor start to the season. He joined Scunthorpe United in May 2019 but was sacked in January 2020.