Tony Bennett, the head coach of Virginia men’s basketball since 2009 and leader of the team’s 2019 national championship run, has announced his retirement just before the start of the 2024-25 season. The university made the unexpected announcement on Thursday, and a press conference is scheduled for Friday morning to discuss the decision further. Virginia has not yet named an interim head coach or a succession plan.
Multiple media outlets have reported that Bennett’s decision to retire is not related to health concerns.
Bennett, who has coached the Cavaliers for 15 seasons, led the program to one of the most significant NCAA tournament turnarounds in history. In 2018, Virginia, a No. 1 seed, became the first top seed to lose to a No. 16 seed in the tournament’s first round, falling to UMBC 74-54. A year later, Bennett’s Cavaliers returned with key players like Kyle Guy, De’Andre Hunter, and Ty Jerome, capturing the 2019 NCAA championship by going 6-0 in the tournament.
During the 2019 tournament, Virginia won its Sweet 16 matchup against Oregon by four points and narrowly defeated Purdue in the Elite Eight by five points. In the Final Four, the Cavaliers edged out Auburn 63-62 after Guy hit three free throws with 0.6 seconds remaining. Two days later, Virginia defeated Texas Tech 85-77 in overtime to secure its first national title.
Bennett’s career at Virginia has been marked by consistent success in the ACC. Since his arrival ahead of the 2009-2010 season, Virginia has won four regular-season ACC titles in six years and added two more in 2021 and 2023. The Cavaliers also became known for their deliberate playing style, ranking among the slowest teams in tempo while excelling in defense. In their championship season, Virginia led the nation in fewest points allowed per game at 56.1.
Despite regular-season dominance, NCAA tournament success was limited under Bennett’s tenure. The 2019 tournament remains Virginia’s only Final Four appearance, and the team has not advanced past the first weekend in seven of its 10 NCAA tournament trips under Bennett. Last season, Virginia was eliminated in the First Four by Colorado State, losing by 25 points.
Following Bennett’s retirement, Virginia players will have a 30-day window to enter the transfer portal. However, with the season fast approaching, options for transfers may be limited. Virginia is scheduled to open the 2024-25 season on Nov. 6 against Campbell.
Jay Wright, former Villanova coach who retired in 2022, praised Bennett in a post on X, stating that he was “one of the most talented and toughest coaches we ever competed against.”
