Five Bold Predictions For Virginia's 2024-25 Season Reading Tony Bennett Retirement Fallout Next Sunday Couch QB: Clemson

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Tony Bennett Retirement Fallout

Tony Bennett Retirement Fallout

As you’re probably aware by now, Tony Bennett is retiring after 15 glorious seasons as the Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Virginia.  He informed the team of his decision yesterday afternoon, and the news broke on social media within the hour.  There’s a press conference scheduled for 11:00 AM this morning to make it all official.   

 

 

Very surprising news.  Even people who go to great lengths to keep their finger on the pulse of the program were totally blindsided.  No one saw this coming right now.  It’ll be really interesting to hear his explanation, mostly for the timing, at today’s press conference.  

It was widely believed that he would retire within the next few years.  There were signs of that coming, perhaps even being planned.  Only the timing is a big surprise.  Three weeks before the start of a new season.  And with a promising young team, which he seemed excited about coaching just last week at ACC media day.  But Tony Bennett more than earned the right to walk away on his own schedule.  

Bennett Legacy 

I’ll leave the task of trying to do justice to Tony Bennett’s legacy to more talented writers.  All things considered, he’s the greatest coach in UVA sports history.  On the Mount Rushmore of college basketball coaches over the last two decades.  He took Virginia Basketball to heights that most fans previously thought were impossible.  And then he won a national championship.

 

 

 

What I appreciated most about Tony Bennett is he did things his own way.  He had a lot of critics, oftentimes vicious.  And he did not give a damn about any of them.  There’s a supremely confident guy behind that humble smile.  He’s a choir boy, yet somehow a rebel at the same time.  From the methodical style of play, to his approach in recruiting, to the five pillars, and the many little quirks that went along with him. It was all unapologetically unique.  

Bennett built a great team, and a program that lasted.  Exactly as he said he would in his opening press conference.  Above all, he did it with unmatched class.   His Wahoos were an absolute pleasure to root for these last 15 years.   

Interim 

Associate Head Coach Ron Sanchez is expected to be announced as the Interim Head Coach.  It was no secret that Bennett wanted Sanchez to be his successor.  This arrangement will allow him the opportunity to prove himself.  And it sets him up favorably, inheriting a team that’s expected to do pretty well.  UVA will make a decision on the next head coach after the season.  

 

 

Sanchez has been a long-time assistant under Tony Bennett, going back to their time at Washington State.  He left the UVA staff in 2018 to become the head coach at Charlotte, where he spent five seasons at the helm before resigning to return to Bennett's side last year. 

His overall record at Charlotte was 72-78.  The 49ers won 22 games in his final season, however, their highest win total in over 20 years. Rumors were that Charlotte wouldn’t commit to a contract extension, so he jumped on the UVA opening when former assistant Kyle Getter bolted for Notre Dame.  No doubt with the hope that this type of opportunity would come. 

Re-Recruiting

The transfer portal is now open to every Virginia player.  Following a coaching change, they have a 30 day window to enter their names.  I doubt anyone will make that move at this point on the calendar.  But Coach Sanchez and the staff will need to make sure everybody is on board.  

A more serious concern is going to be keeping their lone 2025 recruit.  St. Anne’s Belfield (VA) point guard Chance Mallory committed to the Wahoos last month.  We’ll see whether he decides to reopen his recruitment.  As things stand, he doesn’t know who would be his coach at Virginia next year.  Keeping Mallory’s commitment would be a great first step toward earning the job for Sanchez.  

What’s Ahead

There will be basketball soon.  In the aftermath of all this drama, the Hoos will have their first secret scrimmage this weekend against a pretty good VCU team.  Then next week, they head up to Georgetown for another game behind closed doors.  Always curious to hear the results and any details that leak out after those games.  

In just 19 days, UVA opens the new season against Campbell at John Paul Jones Arena.  We’ll have the 2024-25 Wahoos covered every step of the way on Locker Room Access.

(Featured Image Credit: Matt Riley/UVA Athletics) 

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