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Is Ron Sanchez the heir apparent to Tony Bennett for UVA Basketball?

VaselineOctober 18, 2024

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Is Ron Sanchez the heir apparent to Tony Bennett for UVA Basketball?

The second most pressing question surrounding Tony Bennett’s sudden retirement – after ‘why now?’ — is who will succeed Bennett as head coach of Virginia’s basketball program, both on an interim basis and permanently in the future. The answer could very well be the same person, as there have been reports (and plenty of rumors) that UVA head coach Ron Sanchez will be named the team’s interim head coach, with the upcoming 2024-2025 season being an opportunity for the former. Charlotte head coach to become Virginia’s full-time head coach next year and beyond.

Jeff Goodman, who broke the news of Tony Bennett’s retirement just a few minutes before UVA made it official, said “Ron Sanchez will probably be the interim” on his Field of 68 live show Thursday night from West Coast Conference basketball media day.

Since then, other reports have emerged that the plan is indeed for Sanchez to take over Bennett’s position in Virginia on an interim basis, although that won’t be confirmed until Bennett’s press conference on Friday morning.

“Shocking timing for Tony Bennett to retire. Looks like Ron Sanchez will likely be the interim manager.”@GoodmanHoops‘ last after breaking the news that Tony Bennett is IMMEDIATELY retiring from Virginia

WATCH: https://t.co/wHvruoPMrp pic.twitter.com/vixiLRJVxk

— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) October 17, 2024

BREAKING: Sources tell The Hoop Herald that Tony Bennett is healthy and the interim head coach for the 2024-2025 season will be current Associate HC Ron Sanchez

Sanchez was 72-78 in 5 seasons as Head Coach at Charlotte

This will give Sánchez good preparation for the track pic.twitter.com/H8FZYHwIPq

— Hoop Herald (@TheHoopHerald) October 17, 2024

When Sanchez rejoined the program in the summer of 2023 after five years as Charlotte’s head coach, Tony Bennett had this to say about bringing back his old assistant:

“We are pleased to welcome Ron and his family back to the University of Virginia. Ron played an integral role in building this program and was a pillar in the community. He is an excellent recruiter and coach, and really connects with student-athletes. Ron’s last five years as head coach reinforce what he will bring back to our basketball program.”

UVA basketball: Health not a factor in Tony Bennett’s abrupt retirement

Sanchez spent 12 years on Tony Bennett’s coaching staff, including three years at Washington State and then the first nine years of Bennett’s tenure at UVA. He was promoted to associate head coach in 2015, serving in that role for the last three seasons in Charlottesville before returning to that role in 2023.

In five years at Charlotte, Sanchez posted an overall record of 72-78 and coached the 49ers to records above .500 in three of his five seasons. In his final season in Charlotte in 2022-2023, Sanchez led the program to its first-ever postseason tournament title as the 49ers captured the 2023 College Basketball Invitational (CBI).

It remains to be seen why Tony Bennett has decided to retire at this time with the 2024-2025 UVA men’s basketball season starting in less than three weeks, but the timing of his immediate retirement does set the stage for Ron Sanchez for an opportunity for a “prove the year,” where Sanchez can coach the Cavaliers with the roster still intact and make his case to become the program’s head coach on a full-time basis. Had Bennett waited until the end of this season or retired earlier this season, it likely would have resulted in significant roster upheaval, not to mention an immediate national coaching search by Carla Williams. Now that coaching search will likely wait until the end of the season.

Friday’s press conference with Tony Bennett will hopefully provide clarity on the circumstances of his retirement and concrete details on the plan for the future Virginia men’s basketball head coaching position.

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VaselineOctober 18, 2024

0 3 minutes read