Announcement of Retirement
Tony Bennett, the head coach of the University of Virginia men’s basketball team, is reportedly set to announce his unexpected retirement on Friday, as confirmed by the university.
Contract and Reasons for Retirement
Despite having signed a contract extension in the offseason that would have kept him with the program until 2030, the university has not provided a reason for his unexpected retirement.
Coaching Achievements
Bennett, a three-time national coach of the year, has posted a 364-136 record with the Cavaliers. He led the team to its first NCAA national championship in 2019, following the unforgettable upset in the previous year’s tournament when Virginia, as the top seed, was defeated by No. 16 seed UMBC—the first time in history that a 16 seed triumphed over a 1 seed in the NCAA tournament.
Tony Bennett achieved one of the most impressive comeback stories in sports a year after the historic upset. The following season, Virginia, again a No. 1 seed, triumphed over Texas Tech in overtime to secure the program’s first national title.
Record of Success
During his 15 years as head coach, Bennett led the Cavaliers to two ACC tournament championships and six ACC regular season titles.
Upcoming Announcement and Season Opener
Bennett is scheduled to officially announce his retirement at a press conference at John Paul Jones Arena on Friday, October 18, at 11 a.m. ET. Virginia men’s basketball will kick off their season against Campbell on November 6.