University of Virginia men’s basketball head coach Tony Bennett has announced his retirement, effective immediately.
According to the Virginia Basketball Twitter account, Bennett will host a press conference confirming his retirement on Friday morning.
This announcement comes 20 days before the Cavaliers are set to open their season at home against Campbell.
It’s not clear what may have led to his retirement – nor is it clear who will be leading the team for the season.
Bennett had been in charge of the Virginia basketball program since 2009 and has compiled an overall head coaching record of 433-169.
Virginia men’s basketball coach Tony Bennett has announced his immediate retirement
Prior to joining UVA, the Wisconsin native climbed the ranks at Washington State – leading the Cougars to the Sweet 16 in 2008.
After making the jump to Charlottesville, Bennett made the NCAA Tournament ten times – making the Sweet 16 three times, the Elite Eight twice, and the Final Four once in 2019.
In 2019, the Cavaliers beat Texas Tech to win the school’s first and only national championship.
Bennett also won six Atlantic Coast Conference regular season titles and two ACC Tournament titles in 2014 and 2018.
He won the US Basketball Writers Association’s Henry Iba Award for the nation’s best head coach in 2007 at Washington State and in 2015 and 2018 at Virginia. Bennett was also named AP National Coach of the Year and Naismith College Coach of the Year – winning both of those awards in 2007 and 2018.
Bennett holds the single-season wins records at both Washington State and Virginia as well.
Bennett’s trademark was the defensive intensity of his teams – with his peers recognizing him as one of the top defensive coaches in the game.
Among the NBA players he’s coached include Klay Thompson at Washington State as well as Malcom Brogdon, Joe Harris, Trey Murphy III, and Kyle Guy at Virginia.
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