Virginia men’s basketball coach Tony Bennett is retiring immediately, surprising many as the new season approaches. The 55-year-old coach is scheduled to announce his retirement at a news conference on Friday at 11 a.m. EDT. The reasons for his sudden decision have not been disclosed, especially after he signed a contract extension earlier this year that would have kept him at the helm through at least 2030.
Virginia’s season is set to begin on November 6, when they will face Campbell at home. Bennett made a significant impact during his tenure, leading the Cavaliers to a national championship in 2019 and securing ten NCAA Tournament appearances in his 15 years at the university. His record at Virginia stands at 364 wins and 136 losses, highlighted by two ACC Tournament titles and six regular-season conference championships. He was recognized as national coach of the year on three occasions.
Bennett joined Virginia in the 2009-10 season after leaving Washington State, taking over a program that had only made one NCAA Tournament appearance in the previous eight years. He successfully revitalized the team, reaching the NCAA Tournament within three seasons by implementing a defense-focused strategy characterized by a slower tempo that often led to lower scores, garnering fan approval with defensive plays.
His tenure peaked with six consecutive tournament appearances from 2014 to 2019, including four seasons as a No. 1 seed. However, his career also faced challenges, notably when the Cavaliers became the first No. 1 seed to lose to a No. 16 seed in 2018, suffering a historic defeat to UMBC. Despite this setback, Bennett was awarded the AP national men’s coach of the year shortly after, primarily for his regular-season performance.
Bennett responded to that disappointing moment with composure, encouraging his players to rewrite their narrative, and the following year, they ultimately triumphed against Texas Tech to win the program’s first NCAA championship in a dramatic comeback that resonated in tournament history.
The climax of Bennett’s career came during the celebratory moments in Minneapolis, where he was seen embracing the championship victory with humility. Although he led the Cavaliers back to the NCAA tournament in three of his last four seasons, they did not win any further tournament games. As the game evolved, concerns arose about the effectiveness of his strategic approach, especially with an increasing number of players transferring.
Despite a disappointing loss to Colorado State in March, Bennett was present at the ACC’s preseason media days last week, discussing his plans for the upcoming season. This story is still developing.