Major ACC Coaching Shakeup Just Before Basketball Season Tips Off

A former national championship winning basketball coach is stepping down

Nick Shepkowski | Oct 17, 2024

Apr 8, 2019; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Virginia Cavaliers head coach Tony Bennett celebrates with fans after beating the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the championship game of the 2019 men's Final Four at US Bank Stadium. / Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

In this story:

In shocking news Thursday, just weeks before the college basketball season is set to tip-off, a former national championship winning head coach is leaving his post in the ACC.

Tony Bennett, who led Virginia to the 2019 national championship and has had the program as a tournament regular, is stepping down immediately according to multiple reports that have since been confirmed by the school.

BREAKING: Tony Bennett to announce his immediate retirement in a press conference on Friday at 11 a.m. pic.twitter.com/jw9HYtyYaq
— Virginia Men's Basketball (@UVAMensHoops) October 17, 2024

Bennett's Virginia teams made the NCAA Tournament 10 times in 15 seasons as head coach (2020 included despite an NCAA Tournament not being played due to Covid).

Virginia had a significant upper hand against Notre Dame during Bennett's time in Charlottesville with the Cavaliers winning 13 of 16 meetings against the Fighting Irish.

The college basketball world reacted to the news on social media Thursday afternoon.

College Basketball Legend, Rick Pitino

If the news is true, college basketball just lost a man with incredible class, humility, and dignity. Tony Bennett is an awesome teacher of our game. You will be deeply missed!
— Rick Pitino (@RealPitino) October 17, 2024

College Basketball Analyst John Fanta

Tony Bennett was one of college basketball’s remaining elite longtime head coaching faces and authored the sport’s ultimate redemption story from going from humiliation — and handling it with class — to the mountaintop. One of the sport’s great humans. He will be very missed.
— John Fanta (@John_Fanta) October 17, 2024

NCAA March Madness X Account

What a career it’s been for Tony Bennett 👏

433 career wins
2x Naismith Coach of the Year
4x ACC Coach of the Year
2019 National Champion

Virginia legend 🙌 pic.twitter.com/VpmxoDSvJ3
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) October 17, 2024

John Goodman on Bennett's Stunning Retirement

There is no health issue with Tony Bennett in his decision to retire, sources told @TheFieldOf68.

There are likely other reasons, but the changing landscape of college basketball over the last couple years cannot be underestimated in his decision.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) October 17, 2024

Jeff Borzello, College Basketball Reporter

I asked Tony Bennett literally last week why so many people thought he could be the next Jay Wright and suddenly retire out of nowhere.

His response, verbatim: "I gotta call Jay Wright and see what he says, right? I always have said, when you're doing this, you're in this…
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) October 17, 2024

College Basketball Analyst, Jon Rothstein

Tony Bennett, Jay Wright, and Roy Williams have combined to win four of the last eight national titles.

None are still actively coaching.

Anarchy?

Nope. Just College Basketball.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) October 17, 2024

John Fanta Looks Back at Bennett's Impressive Run

Tony Bennett’s run:

2019 National Championship
433 victories
3-time Henry Iba National Coach of the Year
2-time Naismith National Coach of the Year
4-time ACC Coach of the Year
2007 Pac-10 Coach of the Year
6-time ACC regular season champion
2-time ACC Tournament champion

🐐
— John Fanta (@John_Fanta) October 17, 2024