Tony Bennett Retiring (effective immediately)

[gsmooth]

first Jay Wright now TB, who's next?

Whoever it will be, I think it will be coaches who are middle aged or older who have plenty of $ in their bank account from past contracts and feel like they have already accomplished the most they think they ever will or hit their peak in the past.

 

[metsfan2323]

If he waited until now to prevent a mass player exodus, then shame on him.

 

[champs99and04]

The folks who want to shrug this off as something other than a bad sign for the future of college basketball will find a way to do so, but the trend is growing harder to ignore.

Say what you want about Virginia, because I know it hasn't been the most aesthetically pleasing brand of basketball, especially lately. But under Bennett it was one of the few remaining power programs in the sport that sold something other than NIL and NBA dreams. Its style was unique and made college basketball what it is.

 

[Huskyforlife]

We have an open scholarship if someone wants to redshirt…

 

[Vowelguy]

Here's a new interesting fact for recruits : National Championships in the Last 10 Years from current D1 coaches:

Dan Hurley : 2
All Remaining 354 D1 Coaches Combined : 2

Are there current coaches who won >10 years ago?

 

[david]

Are there current coaches who won >10 years ago?

Izzo, Pitino, Cal

 

[UCTitleTown]

Health or scandal, one would think.

Scandal doesn't usually result in retirement.

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

He retired in May but due to his slow pace the announcement just now came out

 

[UCFan1513]

I made a meme

 

[superjohn]

I made a meme

View attachment 104259

Haha, you win the interwebz for the day!

 

[Seamus84]

first Jay Wright now TB, who's next?

Izzo

 

[formerlurker]

Wishing this young man good health.

EDIT: Just saw @HooperScooper s post which makes @UCFan1513 s meme pure genius!

 

[BigTenFan]

Young guy. He has accomplished a lot in his playing and coaching career.

 

[JohnFSilver]

Health or scandal, one would think.

Hope it isn't health. Hope it is a scandal. That said, the style of it was tough ton watch.

 

[Madmannsucks]

Hmmmm. Only 55.

 

[caw]

I'd bet Self with his health issue not long ago.

 

[formerlurker]

Quitter. He's Anthony to me from now on.

There can only be one.

Tony Bennett - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[That Guy]

Damn. I get that he's a great guy, but I feel like retiring this close to the start of the season is kind of messed up. I feel like if the thought of retirement was at the forefront of his mind recently that he would still just soldier on and give it all he's got left for one more go at it instead of calling it quits this close to the start.

 

[QuickDraw]

Scandal doesn't usually result in retirement.

health usually gets mentioned, scandal depending on how bad, who knows. Seems like what ever it is, it must be serious.

 

[twiceahusky]

Quitter. He's Anthony to me from now on.

There can only be one.

“There can be only one”.

- Connor MacLeod

 

[calamity17]

With sources saying health wasn’t an issue, and a scandal looks pretty unlikely based on his history, seems as simple as the guy was done with the NIL/portal era and with the timing wanted to force the school’s hand into promoting his buddy Ron Sanchez. Wouldn’t be surprised if he had this planned since the end of last season, possibly longer. Maybe even used It as a bargaining chip to get Sanchez to resign as HC of Charlotte and be an assistant last offseason. Stinks for the players unless they knew that was a strong possibility.

 

[Travelman6]

Why does it always have to be about health or scandal for some people (not necessarily here) when we just saw Jay Wright retire for reasons other than those two? It happens.

 

[HCCForever]

Why does it always have to be about health or scandal for some people (not necessarily here) when we just saw Jay Wright retire for reasons other than those two? It happens.

People like me are questioning the timing of his announcement. Jay Wright retired in April after the season while Bennett is retiring close to the beginning of the season. Post #46 prior to your post, lays it out pretty well IMO.

 

[NJHoops]

Nothing much changed in the game from the spring, when these rumors started, until now. That might be why he was considering a change, but if (and that’s a big if) that’s all it is, the late exit seems a bit calculated, to the benefit of the program and the detriment of the individual players.

Virginia seems like a healthy, solid program, so hopefully the players feel ok with it all. Also, more evidence that contract extensions are pretty meaningless. Bennett signed his in June.

 

[Mr. French]

He’s a different cat, doesn’t want that grind and wants his hand picked successor. He’s a basketball purist.