Excited state potential energy surfaces of NO are studied using density functional theory and coupled cluster theory exploiting a recently developed algorithm called the maximum overlap method. States arising from excitation to Rydberg orbitals are described well, with coupled cluster theory providing properties comparable in accuracy to multi-reference configuration interaction calculations. For the pi -> pi* valence states, larger errors are observed with density functional theory, and coupled cluster theory fails. This is associated with the multiconfigurational nature of these states. The calculations yield pseudo diabatic states, allowing the surface crossing between the B-2 Pi and C-2 Pi states to be studied directly. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.