Virginia basketball coach Tony Bennett formally introduced his retirement final Friday, citing the present surroundings in school sports activities as one in all his main causes to step down. The 55-year-old thought of stepping away on the finish of the 2023-24 season earlier than signing a contract extension in June that might have saved him with the college till 2030. Bennett finalized his determination to retire throughout fall break, leaving affiliate head coach Ron Sanchez because the interim coach this season. Sanchez was on Bennett’s employees from 2009 to 2018 earlier than taking the pinnacle coach job at Charlotte for 5 seasons.
He stepped down because the 49ers head coach in June 2023 to return as an affiliate head coach at Virginia. The Cavaliers plan to conduct a nationwide teaching search following the conclusion of the 2024-25 season. Should you love the Cavaliers, or simply need to know who will likely be calling the pictures for Virginia sooner or later, make sure you see what the confirmed group of insiders are saying at Wahoos247, the 247Sports affiliate that covers Virginia.
Wahoo247’s Virginia and school basketball insiders are offering on-the-ground updates on each growth surrounding Bennett’s retirement and the way forward for the UVA basketball program, together with insights from Jacquie Franciulli, who has deep-rooted ties inside and across the UVA group. Get all the within scoop on the basketball program, plus and VIP intel on Virginia soccer, recruiting and extra, in addition to entry to The Floor VIP discussion board, the place you possibly can join with different Virginia followers and insiders.
And proper now, Wahoos247 is providing 50% off annual subscriptions*, so now could be the time to enroll. The group at Wahoos247 already has an inventory out of a number of potential candidates and there are some shocking names on the record. Head to Wahoos247 now to see all of them.
Prime Virginia basketball coach candidates
One title the employees has recognized as a possible goal for the full-time job is Virginia affiliate head coach Jason Williford. Bennett pointed to Sanchez and Williford as his two assistants who he hoped would take over this system following his retirement, with Sanchez being named the interim. Williford is in his sixteenth yr with this system, serving as an assistant for his first 9 seasons earlier than getting promoted to affiliate head coach following the 2017-18 season.
His Virginia ties date again to his taking part in days, as he helped lead the Cavaliers to 3 NCAA Event appearances throughout his 4 years on the college. Williford was a group captain on the 1994-95 group that made a run to the Elite Eight, and he additionally performed within the Candy 16 in 1993. He performed professionally for 4 years following commencement earlier than his teaching profession started, and the Wahoos247 group thinks he will likely be in consideration for this job subsequent yr. See extra candidates at Wahoos247.
Learn how to get insider Virginia teaching employees search updates
The remainder of the record consists of a number of different coaches with ties to Virginia, together with a present head coach at a profitable mid-major college. You possibly can solely see who they’re at Wahoos247.
Who’re the highest names within the Virginia basketball teaching search, and what mid-major coach might be on the transfer? Go to Wahoos247 to see their Virginia teaching scorching board and extra, all from a group of reporters with a long time of expertise overlaying the Cavaliers, and discover out.
And reminder, Wahoos247 is providing 50% off an annual VIP membership as a training search particular, so subscribe now earlier than it is too late.
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