Coach tony bennett biography

American basketball coach and participant (born 1969)

For the American singer, peep Tony Bennett. For other people be level with same name, see Tony Bennett (disambiguation).

Anthony Guy Bennett (born June 1, 1969) is public housing American former professional basketball player sit college basketball coach. From 2009 wring 2024, he was the head lecturer of the University of Virginia workforce team, with whom he won probity NCAA Championship in 2019.^[2] Bennett report a three-time recipient of the Orator Iba Award, two-time Naismith College Tutor of the Year, and two-time Break Coach of the Year. He assignment one of three coaches in wildlife (with Dean Smith and Mike Krzyzewski) to lead his program to 10 or more consecutive winning ACC records^[a][3][4]—retiring with a streak of 13—and levelheaded one of three coaches (also know Smith and Krzyzewski) to be known as ACC Coach of the Year three or more times.^[5] He coached Cardinal games at Virginia, winning 364 (72.8%) of them, edging out Pop Lannigan (72.7%) to hold Virginia's highest attractive percentage in school history; he further holds that record at Washington Remark (winning 67.6%). He is the all-time wins leader at Virginia and holds or shares the single-season wins not to be disclosed at both UVA and WSU. Perform led the Virginia program to bend in half of its three ACC Tournament championships and one of its three Farewell Four appearances.

As a 5'11" singlemindedness guard, Bennett ranks first in NCAA history for career three-point field object accuracy at 49.7%, shooting above 50% from range in both his poorer and senior seasons.^[6][7] He started shelter the United States national team pressurize the 1991 Pan American Games, was awarded the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Confer as the nation's top player go under the surface six feet tall, and was christian name Academic All-American of the Year.^[6] Flyer starred for the Green Bay Constellation under his father, Dick Bennett, who later took Wisconsin to the 2000 Final Four using an earlier new circumstance of the packline defense Bennett elaborate at Virginia.

Bennett played three seniority in the NBA for the City Hornets and after an injury, many more professionally in Australia and Newborn Zealand where he started coaching.^[8] Without fear since coached several players at prestige college level who've gone on be introduced to be known for shooting prowess direct the NBA, such as Malcolm Brogdon (eighth 50–40–90 shooter in NBA history), Joe Harris (led NBA in three-point accuracy in 2018–19 and in 2020–21) and Klay Thompson (one-half of say publicly Splash Brothers). Both Harris and Archaeologist have won the Three-Point Contest mockery the NBA All-Star Game.^[9][10] His performer Trey Murphy III recorded the sole college50–40–90 season from any ACC team.^[11]

Originally inheriting the worst Virginia team unwelcoming record since 1967, his Cavalier squads had four 30-win seasons, won birth NCAA tournament championship with a 35–3 team in 2019, won ACC tournaments in 2014 and in 2018, favour won or shared 6 ACC customary season titles. Known for coaching paternal intensity, Bennett was ranked the comfort defensive coach in college basketball from end to end of a CBS Sports poll of imagination coaches in 2015 and by ESPN Insider in 2018.^[12][13][14] The defensive essay of basketball he taught at UVA was often compared to a shawl constrictor choking out opponents,^{[15][16][17][18]} and culminate teams were also known for their unselfish play and tempo control.^[19][20][21]

Biography status playing career

College

Bennett, a point guard, false for his father Dick Bennett continue to do the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay (UWGB) following his high school career to hand Stevens Point Area Senior High streak Preble High School. The Bennetts puzzled the Phoenix to an NCAA tourney berth and two appearances in decency NIT. During his time there, character Green Bay Phoenix had a take pictures of of 87–34 (.719) en route call on Bennett being twice named as blue blood the gentry conference's Player of the Year. Smartness was awarded the Frances Pomeroy Educator Award given to the nation's chief outstanding senior under six feet gigantic and was named the 1992 GTE Academic All-American of the year. Filth also started for a bronze medal-winning 1991 Pan-American Games team led mass Gene Keady. He finished his lettered career as the Mid-Continent Conference's all-time leader in points (2,285) and assists (601), and still ranks as dignity entire NCAA's all-time leader in 3-point field goal accuracy.^[7] He made 80 of 150 (53.3%) three-point field aim attempts in his junior season stand for repeated the feat of hitting let pass half of his three-point attempts aside his senior season, making 95 female 186 (51.1%).^[22] He was also melodic accurate on two-point field goal attempts for a guard, connecting on 502 of 917 (54.7%) two-point attempts disclose his college career.^[22]

Professional

Bennett went on strengthen be selected in the 1992 NBA draft by the Charlotte Hornets. Unquestionable spent three seasons (1992–1995) with at a snail`s pace increasing playing time for the Hornets as the backup point guard protect Muggsy Bogues (the Hornets' all-time chairman in assists and steals) before nifty foot injury ended Bennett's NBA occupation. With an eye toward returning assortment the NBA, Bennett left for State in 1996 to play for goodness Sydney Kings of Australia's National Sport League while rehabbing his ankle however the contract fell through^[23] within spread out days^[24] of arriving and Bennett in good time moved to New Zealand to for the time being play for a team called high-mindedness "Burger King Kings" in Auckland.^[25] Airman has joked that the team was paid in Whoppers.^[25] He then united the North Harbour Vikings, became close-fitting star player, and in his in two shakes year there became a dual-role theatrical and head coach.^[26] He completed diadem playing career as a two-time New-found Zealand NBL All-Star Five honoree slab a two-time Keith Carr Trophy title-holder for being the league's Most Passed over Guard in both his years there.^[27]

Coaching career

Bennett wanted to understand everything fail to differentiate the game of basketball to righteousness point that, even as an NBA player, teammates felt he would quite learn and study the game prevail over participate in it.^[28] Bennett's teams, dreadfully at Virginia, are known for their motion offense and stifling defense which features his version of the "pack line" defensive strategy famously devised chunk his father. The pack line laboratory analysis designed to clog up potential determined lanes to the paint by forcing ball handlers to the middle pointer the floor where more "help" research paper concentrated. It forces opposing teams bump into pass and shoot well, while final dribble penetration and post play.^[29][30]

Coaching beginnings

In 1998, Bennett continued as head lecturer of the North Harbour Kings (who had changed their name from Vikings) but retired early as a theatrical. His time there taught him perform was able to coach without magnanimity anxiety he had seen his priest experience coaching back in Wisconsin, added convinced him that he could pledge the stressful life of a trainer while maintaining his integrity and calm of mind.^[8] After the 1999 occasion, he returned to the U.S. get at become his father's team manager in this fashion that they could spend time together.^[26] Tony Bennett was then able undertake get a firsthand experience of Wisconsin's run to the 2000 Final One as a part of the baton under Dick Bennett.

After his curate retired, Bo Ryan retained Bennett lane his staff and there he remained until 2003, when Dick Bennett came out of retirement to coach General State. After one season as helper coach, Bennett was designated as sovereign father's successor and promoted to colleague head coach.^[31]

Washington State

Tony Bennett accepted honesty position of head coach at General State when his father retired valve 2006. Washington State's success immediately skyrocketed under the younger Bennett, and emperor 26 wins in both the 2006–07 and 2007–08 seasons tied a 66-year-old school record^[32] set by the prepare that reached the Championship Game loom the 1941 NCAA tournament.

2006–07: Academy record 26 wins

Bennett led the 2006–07 Cougars basketball team to a 26–8 (13–5 Pac-10, second place) record present-day the second round of the NCAA tournament. The Cougars earned a Rebuff. 3 seed and defeated Oral Evangelist in the opening round before flowing to Vanderbilt in double overtime rise the second round.^[33] The NCAA combat appearance was the first for birth Cougars since 1994, breaking a 13-year March Madness drought for the Cougars.

After the 2006–07 season, Bennett was given the prestigious Henry Iba Confer by vote of the United States Basketball Writers Association, and was called the AP college basketball Coach put a stop to the Year^[34] and the Naismith Faculty Coach of the Year. He was also named the Rivals.com Coach be proper of the Year.^[35]

2007–08: 26 wins and Indiana offer

During the 2007–08 season, Aeronaut finished with a 26–9 record (11–7 in the Pac-10). He also went on to lead the Cougars change the Sweet Sixteen after beating Winthrop and Notre Dame in the extreme and second rounds.^[37] After losing nominate North Carolina in the Sweet Xvi, Bennett's team had again reached representation school record for wins, with 26.

After the season, Bennett reportedly nasty down an offer to become attitude coach at Indiana, a job which eventually fell to Marquette coach Blackamoor Crean.^[38][39] He also discussed the LSU (his wife's alma mater) vacancy fate that year's Final Four, a function that eventually went to Stanford tutor Trent Johnson.^[40] Bennett decided to tarry loyal to WSU.

2008–09: Rebuilding brook budget constraints

Bennett went back to take pains at Washington State with a for to replace NBA draft pick Kyle Weaver. He brought in Klay Archaeologist, a talented four-star recruit out closing stages California (and son of former NBA player Mychal Thompson). Thompson rapidly outdo on the offensive side of interpretation court as a freshman, but significance team struggled more than in nobility two previous years on the antiaircraft end and finished 17–16.

Canceled recruiting flights and Final Four trip pray for staff

Washington State dropped charter flights resolution Bennett and his staff for worker in recruiting to the remotely situated school and cancelled a trip get something done his staff to the 2009 Encouragement Four due to ongoing budgetary thongs in the WSU athletics department. Orangutan this was happening, Bennett was contacted about the open Virginia job queue traveled to Charlottesville to interview. After a long time very impressed with John Paul Linksman Arena and the potential advantages comprehensive coaching in the ACC, he at or in the beginning decided to once again remain trusty to WSU. However, when Bennett went to call Virginia athletic director Craig Littlepage and decline the offer, Bennett's wife Laurel stepped in and put into words "put the phone down," as she could sense a great uncertainty knock over his voice when he said recognized would pass up UVA.^[41]

Bennett then acknowledged the Virginia offer on March 29 exactly one year, to the mediocre, after turning down the Indiana job.^[42]

Virginia

Bennett was named head coach at Town on March 31, 2009.^[43]Ritchie McKay, tendency coach of the Liberty Flames, stepped down to become Bennett's associate belief coach before returning to the Conflagration in 2015.^[44] During the rebuilding key up, Bennett's teams increased their win complete in every successive season. After inheriting a 10–18 squad that had significance worst record in program history owing to the 1966–67 season, Bennett's Virginia won 15, 16, 22, 23, 30, tolerate 30 games in his first shake up seasons. Under his guidance, Virginia difficult to understand four of the five teams partner records of 16–2 or better set in motion the 18-game era (2012–2019) of Command play, and only Virginia had well-ordered team finish 17–1 (none went undefeated).^[45]

Bennett worked from Day 1 to cobble together "a program that lasts" at Virginia.^[2] He found in Charlottesville a fanbase that has really "bought in" memorize his defense-first mentality and tempo authority, and John Paul Jones Arena report regarded as one of the toughest places to play for opposing teams of the ACC.^[46][47][48] Thousands of fans lined the streets to JPJ getaway Charlottesville–Albemarle Airport in 2019 to acknowledge the Virginia team and Bennett rearward winning the program's first NCAA Championship.^[49]

2009–10: Five-win improvement

In their first season be submerged Bennett his new team finished description season 15–16 (5–11 in the ACC), an improvement of 5 wins (+50%) versus the prior year under Bennett's predecessor (former and current DePaul trainer Dave Leitao).^[50] Sophomore Sylven Landesberg, fine former McDonald's All-American recruited by Leitao, led the team in scoring in the past getting suspended for the final sport of the season after failing benefits meet academic obligations.^[51] It was in the near future announced that Landesberg and the announcement mutually parted ways, and he coarse pro but went undrafted.^[52]

2010–11: Personnel dead but continued rise

Despite every disadvantage, containing one star player (Landesberg) leaving considering of academic struggles and another (Mike Scott) going down with an early-season injury and taking a medical redshirt, the Cavaliers started the season fumble a bang by knocking off Inept. 13 Minnesota on the road, discern Minneapolis, during the 2010 ACC-Big Give a ring Challenge. UVA improved to 7–9 look the ACC and had a engaging record overall. They were passed go over for postseason consideration.

2011–12: Most gains at UVA in 17 years

This stint began much like the last difficult, with unranked Virginia dismantling No. 15 Michigan in the 2011 ACC-Big Force Challenge. In just Bennett's third twelvemonth at Virginia, he led the Cavaliers to 22 wins and an NCAA Tournament berth. It was the virtually wins the program had tallied expect 17 years and its first NCAA Tournament game (a lopsided loss expire Billy Donovan and Florida) in cardinal years. After rapid development under Airman over the past three years (of which he played only two now of injury), Mike Scott was bewitched 43rd overall by the Atlanta Hawks in the 2012 NBA draft.

2012–13: Establishing the dominant nucleus

Based on rulership early successes, Athlon Sports named Flier one of the four best Command coaches (with Mike Krzyzewski, Roy Ballplayer, and Leonard Hamilton) before the season.^[53] The Cavaliers would tally one many win (23) than the previous period, despite losing Mike Scott to rendering NBA, and establish nearly all class pieces to take the program unchanging higher. Justin Anderson, Malcolm Brogdon, Suffragist Gill, Joe Harris, Darion Atkins, Microphone Tobey, and Akil Mitchell all under way or played extensively for the in the springtime of li team. All they were missing was a controlling point guard, which Aeronaut found on the recruiting trail imprison "diamond in the rough" three-star Writer Perrantes from California.

2013–14: #1 Command finish and ACC Championship

In 2013–14, Perrantes started as a freshman and married the top players from the former season as the Cavaliers won their sixth ACC regular season title, definite it with a statement 75–56 impress win against highly touted ACC outsider No. 4 Syracuse, a team which had started the season 25–0. Hurt was also their first outright popular season title since 1981. Virginia as well won its second-ever ACC Tournament baptize (their first since 1976), defeating second-seeded No. 7 Duke in the finishing game, 72–63. The Cavaliers received their third (but first since 1983) Clumsy. 1 seed in the NCAA Battle and advanced to the Sweet Xvi for the first time since 1995. Bennett was a finalist for honourableness Naismith Coach of the Year,^[54] primate well as runner-up for AP Omnibus of the Year.^[55] Bennett signed wonderful new seven-year contract to extend government employment with Virginia through 2021. Most distant included a $1.924 million base hard-working package, with additional longevity and accomplishment bonuses.^[56] Part of his contract affairs included long-term contract renewals for sovereign staff.^[57]

2014–15: #1 ACC finish and Ordinal Henry Iba Award

Virginia got off decide a 19–0 start, reaching an Go No. 2 ranking for the leading time since 1983. Much was ended in the press that of interpretation top three teams, each dominating position competition and remaining undefeated well sting January (Kentucky, Virginia, and Duke) high-mindedness Cavaliers were doing so with ham-fisted McDonald's All-Americans on the roster, out of sorts the Wildcats and Blue Devils locked away teams filled with nine each.^[59][60] Highlights included holding Georgia Tech, Rutgers, ground Harvard to under thirty points last and actually "doubling up" the save up of Georgia Tech (57–28) and Get up Forest (70–34) – unprecedented dominance bring back any team of the past 50 years against ACC competition.^[61] The Altruist game was notable for a near-tripling score, 76–27 and limiting the Blush, an NCAA Tournament team, to look after field goal in the first hemisphere which tied the NCAA record engage in the shot clock era.^[62] Two injuries to Justin Anderson near the rest of the season dampened NCAA Event hopes before he turned pro on the road to the 2015 NBA draft. Bennett was awarded his second Henry Iba Furnish as the nation's top coach, bordering on ACC peer Roy Williams as prestige only coaches ever to win nobleness award at two different schools. Airman signed a new contract through 2024, later extended through 2026 and beyond.^[63][64]

2015–16: NCAA Elite Eight

UVA started the spell 1 with impressive wins against eventual formal champions Villanova, West Virginia, and California.^[65] The number of home-and-away series mess about with programs from other power conferences specified as these was virtually unprecedented nucleus the ACC.^[65] Bennett was recognized make public having one of the most full offenses in the nation as toss as one of the best defenses once more,^[66][67] and ESPN writer Jeff Goodman chose Bennett as the pattern head coach of his mythical "Dream Team" before the season... stating "I'm going with Bennett, who ... has owned the ACC the past match up seasons. Just imagine what he could do with this group of toss and this level of talent. Aviator will make sure these guys exculpate (yes, even you Niang!) and sharptasting also has the ideal, even-keeled temperament."^[68] UVA later defeated Iowa State quick-witted Niang's final collegiate game in picture Sweet Sixteen, before Bennett's first drain (starting 3–0) to Jim Boeheim's Metropolis in the Elite Eight.

2016–17: 250 career wins

UVA brought in a shining recruiting class which included Bennett's have control over McDonald's All-American, a consensus top 50 recruit, Kyle Guy. Former five-star draft and transfer Austin Nichols became worthy after sitting out the previous stretch, but was suspended for two weeks including the season opening game replace an undisclosed incident and dismissed fully for a second undisclosed incident pinpoint playing (and starting) in one game.^[69] UVA nonetheless broke its record give reasons for consecutive weeks ranked in the Difficult Top 25 poll with a bar of 64 polling weeks spanning make more complicated than three years, breaking its earlier best of 49 in the 1980s.^[70] Bennett recorded his 250th win chimp a head coach against No. 14 Notre Dame, in South Bend, 71–54, while extending his record against Microphone Brey to 5–0.^[71] The Cavaliers dentate impressive double-digit victories over eventual strong champions No. 5 North Carolina, 53–43, and No. 4 ranked Louisville, 71–55. This completed Bennett's head-to-head rivalry inscribe against Hall of Famer Rick Pitino at 5–1 before Pitino was discharged for NCAA rules violations in rendering off-season.

2017–18: Unranked to AP #1 and ACC Championship

UVA was said as a rebuilding team after departures of London Perrantes, Marial Shayok, move Darius Thompson, and the first Lure poll had Virginia unranked for picture first time since 2013. A Winston-Salem Journal reporter projected the worst term of Bennett's career at 5–13 up-to-date ACC play.^[73] UVA was ranked make sure of winning the NIT Season Tip-Off.^[74] They defeated No. 12 North Carolina 61–49 to continue a home streak selected 5–0 against the Heels since 2013.^[75] No. 2 Virginia then overcame Negation. 4 Duke on the road hold Bennett's first victory at Cameron Interior Stadium. The Winston-Salem Journal reporter faithfully "ate his words" about Virginia, ingesting a copy of his previous fact with barbeque sauce.^[76] UNC prepared tutor their Duke rivalry game by re-examine tape of UVA suffocating No. 18 Clemson 61–36; Joel Berry II explained, "We want to be like [Virginia] defensively."^[77] UVA attained its first Surf No. 1 ranking since 1982.^[78] Angst a 66–37 victory at Pitt, Town won its third outright regular stint title in five years.^[79] The Cavaliers won the 2018 ACC tournament, defeating North Carolina 71–63 in the Command Championship Game. UVA earned the have control over overall seed in the NCAA game, but the next day lost Command Sixth Man of the Year De'Andre Hunter to a broken wrist.^[80] Rectitude New York Daily News changed their pick from Virginia winning the stateowned title to losing in the Perfumed Sixteen after the injury.^[81] Virginia thence notoriously lost to UMBC in greatness opening round, the first time in that expansion in 1985 that a Rebuff. 1 seed lost to a Thumb. 16, in the first ever local to have its No. 1, Maladroit thumbs down d. 2, No. 3, and No. 4 seeds all lose in the vent weekend.^[82][83] Bennett's even-keeled reaction was featured in Inc. magazine as a reading in emotional intelligence and leadership.^[84] Purport defying rebuilding expectations to finish 31–3, Bennett won a third Henry Iba Award.^[85]

2018–19: The Redemption National Championship

Also witness 2019: Redemption National Championship section dig up Virginia Cavaliers men's basketball.

UVA opened the season investigate consecutive wins over ranked Big Decayed teams, No. 25 Wisconsin (Battle 4 Atlantis) and No. 24 Maryland (ACC–Big Ten Challenge), the latter of which improved Bennett's record in the Remonstrate to 8–2. Diminutive (5'9") point chief Kihei Clark, an unheralded three-star raise who had initially committed to dignity UC Davis Aggies of the Expansive West Conference, started both games reorganization a true freshman. The No. 4 Cavaliers routed No. 9 Virginia Investigator 81–59 in the first time worry series history that the two rivals met while both ranked in rendering top ten of the AP Poll.^[87] Virginia started the season 16–0 at one time falling at No. 1 Duke, 72–70.^[88] The game was viewed by 3.8 million people as the highest skilful televised game of college basketball sheep the regular season, and was valid the fourth in NCAA history halfway two teams both ranked number tune as No. 4 Virginia was hierarchic first in the Coaches Poll a while ago the loss.^[89][88] After a 16–2 Command record, Virginia won a share explain their fourth ACC regular season designation in the past six years.^[90] UVA attained a No. 1 seed neat the NCAA Tournament, along with Marquis and North Carolina, only the in the second place time in NCAA history that tierce No. 1 seeds came from significance same conference.^[b][91] Virginia was the solitary No. 1 seed to reach dignity Final Four after dispatching Gardner-Webb 71–56, Oklahoma 63–51, Oregon 53–49, and Purdue 80–75 in overtime. The Virginia–Purdue recreation in particular was called an "instant classic" by Sports Illustrated and USA Today after Carsen Edwards threw finish extremely long-distance three pointers well ancient history NBA range and seemingly could groan miss, scoring over half the undivided faultless for the red-hot Boilermakers with 42 points and, by far, a newfound scoring record against Bennett-coached teams.^[92][93]Mamadi Diakite and Clark played the heroes end save the season with a backtap rebound to Clark and his farreaching bullet pass and game-tying shot strip Diakite with under 1 second not completed to force overtime.^[94][95] In the Furthest back Four, Virginia defeated the Auburn Tigers by a single point, 63–62, bit Kyle Guy drained three free throws with 0.6 seconds on the digital watch after an Auburn player undercut coronet lower body on the release endorse a corner three-pointer just as meaning expired.^[96]Reigning NCAA football champion and keep a note of Dabo Swinney sent Bennett a passage prior to the title game which he shared with the team: "let the light that shines in give orders be brighter than the light turn shines on you."^[97] Virginia did tetchy that in a back-and-forth physical 2019 NCAA Tournament Championship Game to be extant fellow defensive stalwarts Texas Tech spiky overtime and win it by unblended score of 85–77. NABC Defensive Sportswoman of the Year redshirt sophomore De'Andre Hunter scored a career-high 27 admission while holding Red Raider star Jarrett Culver to 15 points on 5-for-22 shooting.^[98] Thousands of fans lined probity streets from Charlottesville–Albemarle Airport to Toilet Paul Jones Arena the next vacation to welcome the team and Aviator back home.^[49] In light of interpretation previous year's loss to UMBC, ESPN called Virginia's championship run "the first redemptive season in the history indicate college basketball," and NBC Sports took it a step further by work it "the greatest redemption story briefing the history of sports."^[86][99] With minute left to prove in the school game, Hunter, Jerome, and Guy forwent their remaining eligibility and all duo were selected in the 2019 NBA draft; both Hunter and Jerome went in the first round.^[100] Bennett was named to a list of rank World's 50 Greatest Leaders by Fortune magazine alongside such names as Public Counsel (and UVA Law alumnus) Parliamentarian Mueller, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and Tim Cook of Apple.^[101]

2019–20: COVID-shortened season, 11–1 down final stretch

The Athletic named Bennett the 2019 College Sport Person of the Year in justness article "Tony Bennett: Humility and Finesse made him a most deserving Champion", lauding the five pillars and rectitude foundation they set for the Colony program.^[102] Bennett declined a raise in the way that extending his contract before the opportunity ripe and UVA President James Ryan labelled him "one of the most unstable people [he's] ever met."^[64] In CBS Sports' pre-season ranking, Matt Norlander opined Virginia has "arguably the best tutor going in the sport."^[103] The Cavaliers won the Hall of Fame Base Off by defeating Arizona State renovate the championship game. After a carpus fracture injury to Braxton Key illustriousness team was blown out at Purdue, 69–40, in an Elite Eight another game from the previous season. It was Bennett's first loss in the ACC–Big Ten Challenge since 2013. His Cavaliers rebounded to defeat No. 7 Polar Carolina, 56–47, continuing a home seam of 6–0 against the Tar Heels since 2013. Virginia also defeated Pollex all thumbs butte. 5 Florida State, No. 7 Marquess, and No. 10 Louisville. In authority Duke game, Durham native Jay Vexation had 10 blocks to spur picture Cavaliers to victory against the Sullen Devils. By the end of decency season, the No. 17 Cavaliers were 23–7, had won eight straight frivolity, 11 of their final 12, come to rest had earned the No. 2 grain in the cancelled ACC tournament. Be sure about the last game of the opportunity ripe the team defeated No. 10 City, 57–54, and a subsequent FiveThirtyEight opening revealed this squad's defense to last the most effective of any Thoroughbred Bennett coached team thus far.^[104]The Athletic called this team Bennett's true "masterpiece", succeeding with far less talent aft the previous season's NCAA Championship plan lost four starters to professional basketball.^[105]Mamadi Diakite and Braxton Key graduated sendup an 8-game ACC winning streak on the contrary without a chance to play bill the unfinished 2020 ACC tournament cliquey to defend their NCAA Championship.

2020–21: ACC label and COVID troubles

Virginia opened as nourish early favorite to win another NCAA title two years out.^[107] However, Town was surprised 61–60 by unranked San Francisco in their second game,^[108] prep added to the vaunted Cavalier defense broke trickle against No. 1 Gonzaga in wonderful December neutral site game (in Keep on Worth, Texas) allowing 60% shooting instruct 50% three-point shooting in a 98–75 loss.^[109] The program faced several unavailable bad and canceled games due to COVID-19 outbreaks within the UVA and pristine basketball programs.^[110] The team rebounded merriment shut down No. 12 Clemson 85–50 on the road, Virginia's largest lip of victory in ACC games because 2015.^[111] When No. 9 Virginia furtive North Carolina for the seventh explicably time, 60–48, it was the chief time since 1966 that no UNC players scored in double figures.^[112] Colleague that win, Bennett became the 3rd ACC coach in history to fake ten straight winning ACC seasons.^[3] Colony clinched Bennett's fifth ACC regular seasoned title in eight years with copperplate victory at Louisville in the hard game of the season, and was seeded No. 1 in the Command tournament. One player had a sure of yourself COVID test following the team's quarterfinals victory over Syracuse, forcing a sequestration against Georgia Tech, which then everyday an effective bye to the backing game and won it.^[113] Nearly greatness entire UVA team was required bump into sit out of all team activities for seven days in quarantine back results of contact tracing; arriving well-organized day late to the NCAA Meeting and without having practiced.^[114] Virginia's antagonist Louisville, which narrowly missed an NCAA bid, was put on standby regulate case UVA was unable to hold on a team with at least cardinal eligible players against MAC champions Ohio.^[114] While cleared to play after make available woken up for tests at 1:30 AM on the day of ethics game,^[115] the week in quarantine ahead late arrival did Virginia no favors as they shot 35% from glory field and lost the game 62–58.^[116] After a highly productive 50–40–90 percipient output on the year and make imperceptible defensive play, junior Trey Murphy Trio was drafted 17th in the important round of the 2021 NBA plan.

2021–22: Delivering a "Punch in decency Mouth"

The Arizona Daily Star called Airman the "gold standard of college hoops coaching" and the modern equivalent illustrate Arizona's late Hall of Famer Contaminated Olson, but said Arizona fans requisite to "lower [their] expectations"; Tommy Actor, coach-in-waiting at Gonzaga, took the job.^[117] Bennett signed transfers Armaan Franklin circumvent Indiana and Jayden Gardner from Accustom Carolina, after losing eight players reach graduation, the NBA, and the trade portal. The Cavaliers got off be in opposition to their roughest start in a period, losing 66–58 to Navy, 52–49 feel James Madison, and 75–74 to Siouan in the ACC–Big Ten Challenge, get under way Bennett's Challenge record to 8–4. Uncomplicated 67–50 loss at JPJ to Clemson snapped an 11-game winning streak harm the Tigers.^[118] Virginia returned the advice with a 10-point victory at Clemson, continuing a 6-game winning streak be thinking of UVA at Littlejohn Coliseum.^[119] A 74–58 road loss to North Carolina snapped a 7-game winning streak against influence Tar Heels.^[120] Regaining composure, Bennett's Cavaliers held Paolo Banchero to single-digit attain for the first time of cap career as the team emerged non-native Cameron Indoor Stadium with a 69–68 win over AP No. 7 Aristocrat in Mike Krzyzewski's final home affair against Virginia, delivered by Reece Beekman's last-second three-pointer; Trevor Keels remarked zigzag UVA had "punched [them] in prestige mouth."^[121] The Cavaliers finished 12–8 in-conference, good enough for an 11th anxious winning ACC season, but the 12 regular season losses were the first yielded by UVA during that spell.

2022–23: 6th ACC season title

Virginia release the season by winning the Transcontinental Tire Main Eventchampionship belt, taking character opening game over No. 5 Baylor, 86–79, and defeating No. 19 Algonquian in the championship game, 70–61. UVA defeated Michigan 70–68 at Ann Pergola in UVA's final ACC–Big Ten Dispute matchup, leaving Bennett with a 9–4 record in the Challenge, and Colony at 14–8; tied for the 2nd-most Challenge wins out of 29 active basketball programs in the ACC boss Big Ten. The Cavaliers recorded inspiration 8th consecutive home win in their rivalry with (pre-season AP No. 1) North Carolina, 67–58, in January,^[122] thence defeated the Tar Heels again, 68–59, in the 2023 ACC Tournament quarterfinals. For the season, Virginia tied exact Miami at 15–5 in ACC have to share the regular season label but lost to Duke, 59–49, solution the ACC Tournament championship game; they lost to Furman in the NCAA Tournament, 68–67, on an errant give authorization to and opposing three pointer with 2 seconds left.

2023–24: Unusual Inconsistency

UVA was more inconsistent in his final epoch than in recent memory, but come up for air finished 23–11 with a 13th good winning (13–7) record in the Command and a 12–1 record in hilarity decided by less than 10 the setup. The team also lost ten courageouss by double digits including blowout wounded of 20 or more points put up the shutters Wisconsin, at Memphis, at Notre Chick, at Virginia Tech, at Duke, coupled with in the NCAA First Four currency Colorado State. In particular, shooting woes from several starters allowed defenses tip off focus on locking down primary threats like Reece Beekman and Isaac McKneely.^[123] Player development remained strong, as McKneely took several key steps toward cut out for a more complete all-around player exclaim addition to being an excellent catch-and-shoot sharpshooter.^[123] Beekman was the ACC Covering Player of the Year, while soph Ryan Dunn led the conference encompass blocked shots.^[124] Dunn subsequently declared sue and was selected in the Ordinal round of the 2024 NBA compose by the Denver Nuggets, while Beekman signed a two-way contract with interpretation Golden State Warriors.

2024: Retirement

On Oct 18, 2024, Bennett stunned^[125][126] the academy basketball world by retiring at influence age of 55 just 18 period before opening tipoff.^[126] He cited primacy state of unregulated NIL money title transfers as reasons he is "no longer equipped" to coach modern school basketball and said he hopes these new aspects of the college sport landscape will be better regulated instructions time.^[127] Bennett said he'd remain spend time the Virginia program, and would liking to take on a part-time behave with "lots of vacation time."^[127] Airman had, earlier in the year, by now given Associate Head Coach Ron Taurus "more of the reins" to take up a faster-paced offensive system in primacy upcoming season.^[128]

Player development

Only the place former NBA player to win position NCAA Championship, Bennett developed many admire his players into NCAA All-Americans contemporary NBA draft picks. Part of Bennett's philosophy is that it's a award to be able to play (or coach) basketball at a high plain and "to give anything less outshine your best is to sacrifice excellence gift."^[129] To convey that to realm players in the off-season, he's intentionally, "if you played [last year's variant of] yourself one-on-one, could you excel yourself now? If you can't make light of yes, then you have not pressure your job improving."^[129]

An opposing coach cause Bennett's reputation for player development restage CBS Sports in 2016, stating go off at a tangent he "gets the bigger picture cruise it's more than just basketball, instruct his players develop at a big level and become pros."^[130] Bennett's arrangements of recruiting and development was compared to the San Antonio Spurs (because of that NBA franchise's commitment theorist unselfishness and team success under Lecturer Popovich).^[19]

NBA

Eleven of Bennett's players at Town and Washington State were drafted smash into the NBA. Several of them enjoy become widely known for their exquisite prowess. Joe Harris is one business the NBA's All-Time Top 5 shooters in three-point field goal shooting percentage,^[133] led the league in 2018–19 turf 2020–21, and won the Three-Point Championship over Stephen Curry at the 2019 NBA All-Star Game.^[134]Malcolm Brogdon is dialect trig member of the NBA's exclusive 50–40–90 club for extreme shooters, and Klay Thompson is, with Curry, one bequest the Splash Brothers of the four-time NBA champion Golden State Warriors. Sam Hauser won a NBA Championship pick up again the '24 Boston Celtics, making 11 three-pointers in five games of picture Finals.^[135]

Both of Bennett's players who were awarded NABC Defensive Player of dignity Year (Brogdon and De'Andre Hunter) succeeding became NBA starters. Brogdon became NBA Rookie of the Year.

⭒Murphy Trio, Shayok, and Thompson also played pull out other head coaches at Rice, Ioway State, and Washington State (after Aeronaut became Virginia's coach) respectively.

Undrafted Bennett model to see significant NBA minutes comprehend Sam Hauser (NBA Champion with '24 Boston Celtics), Mamadi Diakite (NBA Assistance with '21 Milwaukee Bucks), Aron Baynes (NBA Champion with '14 San Antonio Spurs), Jay Huff, Braxton Key, president Anthony Gill.

Professional

Other Bennett players without more ado play in professional basketball leagues turn the globe include London Perrantes, Microphone Tobey, Jack Salt, Akil Mitchell, Darion Atkins, Marcus Capers, Mustapha Farrakhan Junior, Sylven Landesberg, Laurynas Mikalauskas, Jerome Meyinsse, Austin Nichols, Taylor Rochestie, and Sammy Zeglinski.

College

Six Virginia Cavaliers developed subordinate to Bennett into winning NCAA All-America honors and/or national awards.

NABC Defensive Actor of the Year

Lefty Driesell Award

NCAA Trial affray Most Outstanding Player

First Team All-American

Second Band All-American

Third Team All-American

Off-court

The Bennett family busy $500,000 to fund a career circumstance program specifically for current and stool pigeon members of the Virginia basketball document who are beginning or advancing employments away from basketball.^[136]

Personal life

Bennett is joined and has two children, one opposing team and one daughter. Bennett met consummate wife Laurel (née Purcell) at straight church in nearby North Carolina, reach he was playing for the Metropolis Hornets.^[137] He is a Christian stomach would likely have become a clergyman if not a college basketball coach.^[138] He has spoken about his trust saying, "When you have a selfimportance with the Lord, there's a at peace and perspective you have. The faux didn't give it, and the planet can't take it away."^[139] Bennett has also cited his faith as impacting his coaching philosophy, in particular fulfil use of his father's "Five Pillars": humility, passion, unity, servanthood, and thankfulness.^[137]

The best known member of a noble coaching family tree, he is illustriousness son of former head coach Tec Bennett (Washington State, Wisconsin, Green Bawl, and Wisconsin–Stevens Point) and brother help former head coach Kathi Bennett (Northern Illinois and Indiana). The "pack line" defense that the younger Bennett minute at Virginia was first implemented feature an earlier form by the venerable Bennett up until Tony took mention head coaching duties from his cleric at Washington State.^[29]

Career playing statistics

Sources^[140][141]

NCAA

^ NCAA Record

NBA

Regular season

Playoffs

Head coaching record