Virginia basketball coach Tony Bennett officially announced his retirement last Friday, citing the current environment in college sports as one of his primary reasons to step down. The 55-year-old considered stepping away at the end of the 2023-24 season before signing a contract extension in June that would have kept him with the school until 2030. Bennett finalized his decision to retire during fall break, leaving associate head coach Ron Sanchez as the interim coach this season. Sanchez was on Bennett's staff from 2009 to 2018 before taking the head coach job at Charlotte for five seasons.
He stepped down as the 49ers head coach in June 2023 to return as an associate head coach at Virginia. The Cavaliers plan to conduct a national coaching search following the conclusion of the 2024-25 season. If you love the Cavaliers, or just want to know who will be calling the shots for Virginia in the future, be sure to see what the proven team of insiders are saying at Wahoos247, the 247Sports affiliate that covers Virginia.
Wahoo247's Virginia and college basketball insiders are providing on-the-ground updates on every development surrounding Bennett's retirement and the future of the UVA basketball program, including insights from Jacquie Franciulli, who has deep-rooted ties inside and around the UVA community. Get all the inside scoop on the basketball program, plus and VIP intel on Virginia football, recruiting and more, as well as access to The Ground VIP forum, where you can connect with other Virginia fans and insiders.
And right now, Wahoos247 is offering 50% off annual subscriptions*, so now is the time to sign up. The team at Wahoos247 already has a list out of several potential candidates and there are some surprising names on the list. Head to Wahoos247 now to see them all.
Top Virginia basketball coach candidates
One name the staff has identified as a potential target for the full-time job is Virginia associate head coach Jason Williford. Bennett pointed to Sanchez and Williford as his two assistants who he hoped would take over the program following his retirement, with Sanchez being named the interim. Williford is in his 16th year with the program, serving as an assistant for his first nine seasons before getting promoted to associate head coach following the 2017-18 season.
His Virginia ties date back to his playing days, as he helped lead the Cavaliers to three NCAA Tournament appearances during his four years at the school. Williford was a team captain on the 1994-95 team that made a run to the Elite Eight, and he also played in the Sweet 16 in 1993. He played professionally for four years following graduation before his coaching career began, and the Wahoos247 team thinks he will be in consideration for this job next year. See more candidates at Wahoos247.
How to get insider Virginia coaching staff search updates
The rest of the list includes several other coaches with ties to Virginia, including a current head coach at a successful mid-major school. You can only see who they are at Wahoos247.
Who are the top names in the Virginia basketball coaching search, and what mid-major coach could be on the move? Go to Wahoos247 to see their Virginia coaching hot board and more, all from a team of reporters with decades of experience covering the Cavaliers, and find out.
And reminder, Wahoos247 is offering 50% off an annual VIP membership as a coaching search special, so subscribe now before it's too late.
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