Tony Bennett, the former head coach of Virginia men’s basketball, announced his retirement on Friday, citing the “current environment” in college sports as a significant factor in his decision to step down from leading the Cavaliers.
During his retirement press conference, Bennett expressed his realization that he could no longer effectively lead the team. “The hardest thing to say is when I looked at myself and I realized I’m no longer the best coach to lead this program in this current environment,” he stated. He emphasized the need for commitment in coaching, saying that doing the job halfheartedly would be unfair to the university and the players.
At 55 years old, Bennett has been critical of the direction of college athletics, particularly with the rise of the transfer portal and name, image, and likeness issues. “The game and college athletics is not in a healthy spot,” he remarked, believing that substantial changes need to be made and that it is unlikely to revert to previous models. While he supports student-athletes receiving revenue, he called for collective bargaining, salary limitations, transfer regulations, and reduced agent involvement for younger players. He also expressed concern for the mental health of student-athletes amid these changes.
Bennett had contemplated stepping away at the end of the upcoming season but changed his mind after a weekend away with his wife, Laurel, during which he reflected on his future. “And that’s where I kind of came to the realization that I can’t do this,” he said, feeling it would be unfair to continue in his role when he knew he wasn’t the right person for the job.
Ron Sanchez, associate head coach and former head coach of Charlotte, will take over the program for the upcoming season. Bennett expressed confidence in leaving the program in good hands, noting, “I always hoped that when my time was done, whether it was Ron or Jason [Williford], the two associate head coaches, that someone would take this over.”
Over his 15 seasons at Virginia, Bennett achieved remarkable success, including winning a national championship in 2019 and securing six ACC regular-season titles along with two league tournament titles. “I wish I could have gone longer. I really do,” Bennett admitted, but he believed stepping down would allow him to leave with energy still remaining, avoiding potential regret for not being fully committed.
Despite the Cavaliers’ prominence during Bennett’s tenure, they have not won an NCAA tournament game since their championship run, and they were recently projected to finish fifth in the ACC preseason poll. Bennett acknowledged the pressure of competition, noting that winning had become more of a relief than a celebration.
Before his time at Virginia, Bennett spent three seasons at Washington State, leading the team to two NCAA tournament appearances and achieving back-to-back 26-win seasons. He also served as an assistant coach at Washington State and Wisconsin before becoming a head coach.
Bennett’s retirement parallels the experiences of his mentors. His father retired from Wisconsin after just three games in the 2000-01 season, while Bo Ryan stepped down midway through the 2015-16 season. At his press conference, Bennett indicated a desire to advocate for student-athletes and coaches in the evolving landscape of college sports, stating, “You can’t fight against yourself.”