Tony Bennett retiring

[M2MPrinciples]

Feels like a Sabanesque exit, isn't willing to deal with the NIL BS. Not why he got into coaching

And doing it this late in the game forces the school to give his assistant of choice a dry run.

 

[cliftonparksufan]

Tony Bennett retires: Virginia coach, national title winner abruptly steps away prior to 2024-25 season

Bennett is leaving his post just three weeks ahead of Virginia's season-opener against Campbell

www.cbssports.com

 

[LAorange44]

Bad for the league. With the retirement of the HoF old guard, and now Tony, ACC is clearly a step below the SEC in head coach firepower and name recognition.

 

[RF2044]

Has to be health related.

Too bad - from a basketball purist standpoint, Bennett [and his father] were outstanding coaches, who fielded competitive teams at every level.

They've "owned" us to a degree. Won't be sad to see him go from that standpoint, but will be sad because he's an outstanding coach.

 

[M2MPrinciples]

Has to be health related.

Well he is 55 and he promised his family he wouldn't coach past his team's scoring average.

 

[llandz]

And saying he had just signed an extension. Seems if you were NIL burned out you would not have signed the extension, but made the decision beforehand. Again, hope he is ok, or his family is ok and someone posted that it is not his health. And hopefully not a scandal as he is one of the coaches I really admire.

 

[sabach]

This is horrible for the program. I really hope he and everyone in his family is OK, I can't think of anything else other than bad stuff. Hate to be morbid, but the chances of this not being awful are very low.

My thoughts exactly. The timing of this makes no sense unless there is something wrong. Hope it's not.

 

[jdubs30]

Maybe Jay Wright should give Dan Hurley a call

 

[Eric15]

I love Tony Bennett. Probably the most likable coach of one of our rivals/opponents that I can think of.

 

[Sherman20]

What!

 

[Dcuse]

It’s reported that it’s not health related. It seems he’s disgusted with the direction of College sports similar to Saban. Good for him. I can’t imagine that this won’t happen more. Again, I hope it all implodes and the SEC and Big 10 choke on it. Screw Sankey and Petitti.

 

[JDubbin]

I know a few people that know Tony Bennett, they all respect him & his character/integrity deeply. I’d be shocked if it’s scandal related, certainly hope it’s not the case. In a weird way, because of hoping it’s not health related… DO hope it’s NIL burnout, but it does leave his team in a bind which isn’t great

 

[Scooch]

People complain about his style of play, but the man can coach and comes across as a genuinely good person. I've spent enough time on the UVA campus the past 3 years to know he's got an impeccable reputation down there.

Hope things are OK. It'd be totally out of character for this to be anything but an emergency situation.

 

[hoopsupstate]

They better hope they can hold on to their players. They have the next 30 days to enter the portal.

 

[RF2044]

It’s reported that it’s not health related. It seems he’s disgusted with the direction of College sports similar to Saban. Good for him. I can’t imagine that this won’t happen more. Again, I hope it all implodes and the SEC and Big 10 choke on it. Screw Sankey and Petitti.

I can understand why.

It was a stressful profession to begin with. Now, on top of that, imagine having to re-recruit every player o your team every year, not being able to build year-over-year depth [which a program like Bennett's relies on] because guys are free to bail at intervals multiple times per year. And on top of that, having to deal with NIL related-considerations, both in terms of your existing roster and with recruits.

That's not what a lot of these coaches signed up for. I mean, under the OLD system -- recruiting never slept. Imagine that times 1000%, and that's the pressure these coaches face today. Sure, the money is great, but it just seems like a non-stop, year-round hassle under current rules.

 

[HyattsCuse]

Anyone got a link to the Virgina board?

The Sabre

 

[mark79]

I know a few people that know Tony Bennett, they all respect him & his character/integrity deeply. I’d be shocked if it’s scandal related, certainly hope it’s not the case. In a weird way, because of hoping it’s not health related… DO hope it’s NIL burnout, but it does leave his team in a bind which isn’t great

I agree. No way it’s a scandal. This reminds me of Bronco’s early departure. Part burnout but also just completely fed up with what is required to succeed now in college basketball. Just my guess though.

He’s gonna hold a press conference tomorrow at 11. It’s blowing up the news here in Charlottesville.

 

[Dinkyspond]

wow, he usually waits until mid-march to quit

he does have a natty and some ACC titles, I don't call that quitting. Great 15-year run at UVA. If he hypothetically became our coach after JB, I think Cuse fans would have been estatic.

 

[Dinkyspond]

I agree. No way it’s a scandal. This reminds me of Bronco’s early departure. Part burnout but also just completely fed up with what is required to succeed now in college basketball. Just my guess though.

He’s gonna hold a press conference tomorrow at 11. It’s blowing up the news here in Charlottesville.

Bronco came back too, remember that.

 

[mark79]

Bronco came back too, remember that.

Not sure Tony will.

 

[Toga]

Well he is 55 and he promised his family he wouldn't coach past his team's scoring average.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Any players/croots worth poachin'?

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

Any players/croots worth poachin'?

They have 3-4 Fr. Guards. Some are RS. One from Ontario, CA

 

[mark79]

Any players/croots worth poachin'?

4 star 2025 point PG Chance Mallory. Maybe by chance we can have two chances at a national championship?

 

[Eric15]

The world is losing too many Tony Bennetts.