After an illustrious career, Virginia Cavaliers head coach Tony Bennett has decided to retire, citing significant changes in college athletics—particularly the NCAA’s new policies surrounding student-athlete compensation—as a driving factor in his decision.
“I think it’s right for student-athletes to receive revenue,” Bennett stated during a press conference on Friday, according to Nicole Auerbach of NBC Sports. “But the game and college athletics are not in a healthy spot.” Bennett expressed concerns about the current state of college sports, hinting that the direction it is heading may resemble a professional model more closely than before. His comments reflect his discomfort with the rapid transformation of the NCAA landscape and the growing professionalization of college athletics.
At 55, Bennett has decided it is time to step aside, confirming that longtime Cavaliers assistant coach Ron Sanchez will succeed him as the new head coach. Bennett, who has always been regarded as a coach who emphasized values, teamwork, and player development, shared his struggles to adapt to the evolving collegiate environment. As agents and external influences become more involved in student-athlete decisions, Bennett felt increasingly out of place.
“I’m like a square peg in a round hole,” he admitted, according to The Athletic’s Grace Raynor. His coaching career began with a three-year stint at Washington State before he joined Virginia, where he amassed a remarkable 364-136 record over 15 seasons. Despite his success, Bennett acknowledged that adjusting to the external pressures of agents and the evolving commercial aspects of the sport had become challenging.
“Will I miss the game? Do I love the game? Absolutely,” Bennett said. “But I don’t think I’m equipped in this new way to coach, and it’s a disservice if you keep doing that.”
Bennett’s decision to retire comes after one of the most successful coaching careers in recent college basketball history. During his time at Virginia, he led the team to 10 NCAA Tournament berths, won six regular-season championships, and claimed two ACC Tournament titles. Perhaps his crowning achievement came in 2019, when the Cavaliers captured their first-ever national championship, cementing his legacy.
A two-time Associated Press Coach of the Year, Bennett’s departure marks the end of an era in Virginia basketball. Though he expressed regret that he couldn’t continue longer, he is confident that stepping away is the right move for both him and the program.
As Virginia transitions under Ron Sanchez’s leadership, the college basketball world will undoubtedly feel the absence of one of its most respected coaches, a leader who prioritized character and integrity in an increasingly commercialized landscape.