Legendary College Basketball Coach Tony Bennett To Retire Just Days Before Season Begins

Virginia mens basketball coach Tony Bennett announced his immediate retirement just before the 2024-2025 season kicks off.

The 55-year-old coach, who led the Cavaliers to their first-ever national title in 2019, is set to formally announce that he is retiring on Friday, according to Virginia Mens Basketballs official X account .

His decision has been announced only months after he agreed to a contract extension to remain with the team through 2030 at minimum, according to The Associated Press .

No official reason has been given for his announcement.

(RELATED: Watch Tony Bennetts Postgame Comments After Virginia Wins The National Title) Over his 15-season career in Charlottesville, Bennett guided the Cavaliers to a 364-136 record, clinching two ACC Tournament titles, six regular-season championships and 10 NCAA Tournament appearances.

He also earned the title of National Coach of the Year three times during his tenure.

The coachs defensive-focused pack-line system, a strategy he learned from his father, Dick Bennett, became the backbone of Virginias success, earning them a reputation as one of the top defensive teams in college basketball, The New York Times reported.

His father had spent 28 seasons as a head coach.

BREAKING: Tony Bennett to announce his immediate retirement in a press conference on Friday at 11 a.m.

pic.twitter.com/jw9HYtyYaq Virginia Mens Basketball (@UVAMensHoops) October 17, 2024 However, Bennetts reign was not without its low points .

In 2018, his team made unwanted history as the first No.

1 seed to fall to a No.

16 seed during the NCAA Tournament, with UMBC taking the victory.

Bennett turned that embarrassment into motivation, guiding his team to redemption with a national championship win in 2019, defeating Texas Tech in overtime..

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