The school revealed that 55-year-old Tony Bennett UVA Men’s Basketball Coach will be immediately retiring Friday. With Virginia’s opening game set against Campbell on November 6, Bennett was getting ready to begin his sixteen season.
As of Thursday afternoon, no interim replacement has been named. However, the school is considering several strong candidates to fill Bennett’s shoes. Associate head coach Ron Sanchez, who returned to Charlottesville last season after serving five years as the head coach at Charlotte, is one of the potential options. Another candidate is associate head coach Jason Williford, who has been with Bennett throughout his entire tenure at Virginia. The future of the team is in good hands.
Accomplishments
Bennett, a two-time National Coach of the Year, leaves behind a rich legacy at Virginia. He led the Cavaliers to a national championship in 2019 and under his leadership, the team also won six ACC regular-season titles and two ACC tournament titles. His impact on the team and the sport will be remembered for years to come.
Defensive Excellence
Bennett’s teams were known for their lockdown defence. Under his guidance, Virginia’s defense consistently ranked among the best in several categories:
- Points per game allowed: 57.4 (1st)
- Opponent free throw attempts per game: 14.6 (1st)
- Opponent rebounds per game: 30.8 (2nd)
- Opponent field goal percentage: 40.2% (8th)
(Data since 2009-10, per ESPN Research)
Virginia made 10 NCAA tournament appearances under Bennett, but the team had not won a tournament game since their 2019 national title, a significant achievement in the team’s history. Despite this, they were picked to finish fifth in the ACC preseason poll released on Wednesday. Bennett had recently signed a two-year contract extension in June, which would have kept him with the program through the 2029-30 season.
Reflections on the State of College Athletics
While Bennett’s time at Virginia was marked by success, he also expressed concerns about the direction of college athletics. In a recent interview with ESPN at ACC Media Day, Bennett was asked about rumours that he might retire like Jay Wright had done, despite being in his coaching prime. He specifically mentioned issues such as player compensation and the increasing commercialization of college sports as factors influencing his decision.
Bennett responded
“I always have said, when you’re in this profession, whether you agree with how it’s going or not, you have to be true to yourself. You have to ask, ‘Who am I? Can I operate how I want, and can it be successful enough?’ And you get to choose whether you want to be a part of it.”
He continued
“And when you feel it’s time, like Jay [Wright] did, like Coach K [Mike Krzyzewski], maybe [Nick] Saban, it’s their choice. You can complain and gripe, decide to do things your way, or step away. I think Jay Wright probably foresaw where this is going… It’ll be better whenever there are regulations. Is that three to five years away? Who knows? But if it’s not, every man has to decide when it’s time.”
Coaching Career Highlights
Before joining Virginia in 2009, Bennett coached at Washington State, leading the Cougars to two NCAA tournament appearances in three seasons. His teams posted back-to-back 26-win seasons, including a Sweet 16 appearance in 2008. Bennett had also worked as an assistant coach at Washington State and Wisconsin, coaching under his father, Dick Bennett.
As a player, Bennett starred for his father at Green Bay, becoming the Mid-Continent Conference’s all-time leading scorer and the NCAA’s all-time leading 3-point shooter. He was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets in the 1992 NBA draft and played three seasons in the league.