The 2024-25 college basketball season is approaching in less than three weeks, but Virginia is undergoing a coaching transition following the retirement of future Hall of Famer Tony Bennett. He announced his decision during a press conference on Friday, concluding his tenure as the school’s all-time wins leader and guiding them to their only national championship in 2019.
This move comes just months after he signed a new contract extension, following the paths of other legendary coaches like Mike Krzyzewski (Duke), Roy Williams (North Carolina), and Jim Boeheim (Syracuse), all of whom were replaced by internal candidates. Ron Sanchez, the associate head coach, will take over as the interim head coach for the Cavaliers.
Virginia’s Athletic Director, Carla Williams, stated that a national search for Bennett’s permanent successor will commence after the season. Under Bennett, the Cavaliers became one of the top programs in college basketball, making this a highly sought-after position. For fans wanting insights on Virginia’s future direction, Wahoos247, a 247Sports affiliate covering Virginia, offers updates and analysis from insiders like Jacquie Franciulli, who has strong ties to the UVA community.
Wahoos247 is currently providing a 50% discount on annual subscriptions, making it an opportune time for fans to sign up. The team has already compiled a list of potential candidates for the head coach position, featuring some surprising names. Fans are encouraged to check out Wahoos247 for more information.
Top Virginia Basketball Coach Candidates
One name identified by the staff as a potential target for the full-time position is Virginia associate head coach Jason Williford. He is in his 16th year with the program, having served as an assistant coach for the first nine seasons before being promoted to associate head coach after the 2017-18 season. Williford has played a key role in guiding the Cavaliers to a national championship, six ACC regular-season titles, and ten NCAA Tournament appearances.
He played for four years at Virginia in the early 1990s, participating in three NCAA Tournaments with the Cavaliers. Williford then spent four seasons as an assistant at American University and five years at Boston University. Although he lacks head coaching experience at the college level, his strong ties to Virginia make him an intriguing candidate for the national search following the season.
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