Feb 19, 2024; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Virginia Cavaliers head coach Tony Bennett walks off the courtroom after the sport at Cassell Coliseum. Necessary Credit score: Brian Bishop-Imagn Photos Tony Bennett broke up the soccer information cycle in dramatic style on Thursday when the College of Virginia confirmed that he’s stepping down instantly as this system’s basketball coach.
The information was notably surprising contemplating Bennett took half within the ACC Media Tipoff earlier this month and that he lately signed a contract extension by means of 2030.
The information comes lower than three weeks earlier than the beginning of the 2024-25 season, and there was no rapid phrase of who will take his place no less than on an interim foundation. If there’s a deliberate successor in place, the title has not been shared publicly so far.
Who takes the reins of the celebrated program on a everlasting foundation could also be a query for subsequent offseason, however listed here are the highest three candidates to guide the Cavaliers no less than by means of the upcoming season.
RON SANCHEZ
Sanchez got here with Bennett from Washington State to Virginia earlier than leaving to take over because the Charlotte 49ers’ head coach from 2018-23, posting a 72-78 document that included profitable a CBI championship final 12 months. He returned to the Cavaliers this offseason as an affiliate head coach, and would at minimal be the main candidate to take over on an interim foundation. Sanchez started his school teaching profession as an assistant at SUNY Oneonta in 1996.
JASON WILLIFORD
Williford was promoted to an affiliate head coach place when Sanchez left for Charlotte, and the Cavaliers received the nationwide title in his first season within the function. His roots run deep in this system, as Williford performed 4 years for the Cavaliers, together with on the 1992 NIT championship crew. He returned to Virginia in 2009, becoming a member of Bennett’s employees after working as an assistant at American College and Boston College.
BRAD SODERBERG
Soderberg at the moment serves because the Cavaliers’ director of scouting after spending head teaching stints at Lindenwood, St. Louis, South Dakota State and Loras Faculty. Sure, these are all far smaller packages, however Soderberg additionally served because the interim head coach at Wisconsin in 2000-01. He joined Bennett in 2015 as an assistant, transferring into the director of scouting function in 2021.
Virginia, which went 23-11 and made the NCAA Event final season, dropping 67-42 to Colorado State within the first spherical. The Cavaliers open the 2024-25 marketing campaign Nov. 6 at dwelling in opposition to Campbell.
–Discipline Degree Media