History of Tony Bennett (basketball) in Timeline

Anthony "Tony" Bennett is an American former professional basketball player and college coach, most notably as the head coach of the University of Virginia men's team from 2009 to 2024. He led Virginia to an NCAA championship in 2019. Bennett has received numerous accolades, including three Henry Iba Awards, two Naismith College Coach of the Year awards, and two AP Coach of the Year awards, solidifying his reputation as one of the most successful college basketball coaches.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1911: Winning Streak Against UNC

From 1911 to 1916, under program founder Pop Lannigan, Virginia achieved its prior best streak of six straight wins against North Carolina.

1916: Winning Streak Against UNC

From 1911 to 1916, under program founder Pop Lannigan, Virginia achieved its prior best streak of six straight wins against North Carolina.

1941: Team Reached Championship Game

In 1941, the Washington State team reached the Championship Game of the NCAA tournament, a record that Tony Bennett later tied.

1966: First time since 1966 that no UNC players scored in double figures

In 1966, when No. 9 Virginia defeated North Carolina for the seventh straight time, it was the first time since 1966 that no UNC players scored in double figures. With that win, Bennett became the third ACC coach in history to have ten straight winning ACC seasons.

1966: Worst record in program history

Tony Bennett inherited a 10-18 squad that had the worst record in program history since the 1966-67 season.

1967: Worst Virginia team by record

Tony Bennett inherited the worst Virginia team by record since 1967.

June 1, 1969: Tony Bennett's Birth

On June 1, 1969, Anthony Guy Bennett, later known as a successful basketball coach and player, was born.

1976: Won its second-ever ACC Tournament title

In 2013-14, Virginia won its second-ever ACC Tournament title (their first since 1976), defeating second-seeded No. 7 Duke in the final game, 72-63.

1981: 1981 Final Four

In 1981, North Carolina frustrated Virginia at the Final Four, contributing to a history of challenges for Virginia against UNC in major tournaments.

1981: First outright regular season title

In 2013-14, the Cavaliers won their first outright regular season title since 1981.

1982: UVA attained its first AP No. 1 ranking since 1982

In 1982, UVA attained its first AP No. 1 ranking since 1982. The team's success marked a significant milestone for the program.

1983: Received first No. 1 seed

In 2013-14, the Cavaliers received their third (but first since 1983) No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 1995.

1983: Reached AP No. 2 ranking

Virginia got off to a 19-0 start, reaching an AP No. 2 ranking for the first time since 1983.

1985: Virginia lost to UMBC in the opening round of the NCAA tournament

In 1985, for the first time since expansion, a No. 1 seed lost to a No. 16 in the NCAA tournament, with Virginia losing to UMBC in the opening round.

1991: Started for a bronze medal-winning team

In 1991, Tony Bennett started for a bronze medal-winning Pan-American Games team.

1991: Started for United States national team

In 1991, Tony Bennett started for the United States national team at the Pan American Games. He also received the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award.

1992: Named Academic All-American of the year

In 1992, Tony Bennett was named the GTE Academic All-American of the year.

1992: Selected in the NBA draft

In 1992, Tony Bennett was selected in the NBA draft by the Charlotte Hornets.

1994: First NCAA Tournament appearance

In 2006, Tony Bennett led the Cougars to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1994.

1995: End of NBA career

In 1995, Tony Bennett's NBA career ended due to a foot injury.

1995: Advanced to the Sweet Sixteen

In 2013-14, the Cavaliers received their third (but first since 1983) No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 1995.

1996: Played in Australia and New Zealand

In 1996, Tony Bennett went to Australia to play for the Sydney Kings, and later moved to New Zealand to play for the "Burger King Kings" in Auckland.

1998: Continued as head coach of the North Harbour Kings

In 1998, Tony Bennett continued as head coach of the North Harbour Kings, retiring early as a player.

1999: Returned to the U.S.

After the 1999 season, Tony Bennett returned to the U.S. to become his father's team manager.

2000: Wisconsin Final Four

In 2000, Dick Bennett, Tony Bennett's father, took Wisconsin to the Final Four, utilizing a version of the packline defense that Tony Bennett later perfected at Virginia.

2000: Part of Wisconsin's Final Four staff

In 2000, Tony Bennett was part of the staff under Dick Bennett during Wisconsin's run to the Final Four.

2003: Assistant Coach and Associate Head Coach

In 2003, after Bo Ryan retained Tony Bennett on his staff after his father retired, Dick Bennett came out of retirement to coach Washington State. Tony Bennett was designated as his father's successor and promoted to associate head coach.

2006: Given the Henry Iba Award

After the 2006-07 season, Tony Bennett was given the Henry Iba Award by vote of the United States Basketball Writers Association, and was named the AP college basketball Coach of the Year and the Naismith College Coach of the Year.

2006: Named Head Coach at Washington State

In 2006, Tony Bennett accepted the position of head coach at Washington State.

2006: Led Cougars basketball team

In 2006, Tony Bennett led the Cougars basketball team.

2007: Finished season with a 26-9 record

During the 2007-08 season, Tony Bennett finished with a 26-9 record, leading the Cougars to the Sweet Sixteen.

2007: Tied School Record for Wins

In the 2006-07 season, Tony Bennett's 26 wins tied a 66-year-old school record set by the team that reached the Championship Game of the 1941 NCAA tournament.

March 31, 2009: Named Head Coach at Virginia

On March 31, 2009, Tony Bennett was named head coach at Virginia. Ritchie McKay stepped down to become Bennett's associate head coach.

2009: Became Head Coach at University of Virginia

In 2009, Tony Bennett became the head coach of the University of Virginia men's basketball team.

2009: Contacted About Virginia Job

In 2009, Washington State dropped charter flights and cancelled a trip for Tony Bennett and his staff. He was contacted about the open Virginia job and interviewed.

2010: Knocked off No. 13 Minnesota

During the 2010 ACC-Big Ten Challenge, the Cavaliers started the season with a bang by knocking off No. 13 Minnesota on the road, in Minneapolis.

2011: Dismantled No. 15 Michigan

In 2011, Virginia dismantled No. 15 Michigan in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge.

2012: Mike Scott drafted by the Atlanta Hawks

In 2012, Mike Scott was taken 43rd overall by the Atlanta Hawks in the NBA draft.

2012: Virginia in the 18-game era

Under Tony Bennett's guidance, Virginia had four of the five teams with records of 16-2 or better in the 18-game era (2012-2019) of ACC play.

2013: Perrantes started as a freshman

In 2013, Perrantes started as a freshman and joined the top players from the previous season as the Cavaliers won their sixth ACC regular season title.

2013: Bennett's first loss in the ACC–Big Ten Challenge since 2013

In 2013, Tony Bennett suffered his first loss in the ACC–Big Ten Challenge, when Virginia was blown out at Purdue, 69–40, in an Elite Eight rematch from the previous season.

2013: Virginia unranked for the first time since 2013

In 2013, Virginia was unranked in the AP poll for the first time since 2013 after departures of key players, being viewed as a rebuilding team. They also defeated North Carolina to continue a home streak of 5-0 against the Heels since 2013.

2014: Won ACC Tournaments

In 2014, Tony Bennett led his Cavalier squad to win ACC Tournaments.

2015: Ritchie McKay returned to the Flames

In 2015, Ritchie McKay returned to the Flames after serving as Tony Bennett's associate head coach.

2015: Awarded the Henry Iba Award

In 2015, Tony Bennett was awarded his second Henry Iba Award as the nation's top coach.

2015: Ranked the top defensive coach

In 2015, Tony Bennett was ranked the top defensive coach in college basketball by a CBS Sports poll of head coaches.

2015: Virginia's largest margin of victory in ACC games since 2015

In 2015, the Virginia Cavaliers had their largest margin of victory in ACC games since 2015, shutting down No. 12 Clemson 85–50 on the road.

2017: Roy Williams won NCAA Championship

In 2017, Roy Williams won an NCAA Championship, during a period when both he and Tony Bennett achieved NCAA Championship titles.

2018: Joe Harris led the league in three-point field goal shooting percentage

In 2018, Joe Harris led the league in three-point field goal shooting percentage. Harris is also one of the NBA's All-Time Top 5 shooters in three-point field goal shooting percentage.

2018: Joe Harris led NBA in three-point accuracy

In 2018, Joe Harris, who was coached by Tony Bennett, led the NBA in three-point accuracy.

2018: ACC Tournament Championship

In 2018, Tony Bennett led Virginia to the ACC tournament championship against North Carolina, marking a significant triumph in the program's history.

2018: Won ACC Tournaments

In 2018, Tony Bennett led his Cavalier squad to win ACC Tournaments.

2018: Virginia won the 2018 ACC tournament

In 2018, the Cavaliers won the ACC tournament by defeating North Carolina. Later in 2018, UVA earned the first overall seed in the NCAA tournament, but lost De'Andre Hunter to a broken wrist and then notoriously lost to UMBC in the opening round.

2019: Joe Harris won the Three-Point Contest

In 2019, Joe Harris, one of Bennett's former players, won the Three-Point Contest over Stephen Curry at the NBA All-Star Game.

2019: Bennett was named 2019 College Basketball Person of the Year

In 2019, Tony Bennett was named the College Basketball Person of the Year by The Athletic. He also declined a raise when extending his contract and the Cavaliers won the Hall of Fame Tip Off by defeating Arizona State in the championship game.

2019: Tony Bennett won NCAA Championship

In 2019, Tony Bennett won an NCAA Championship, marking a high point in his friendly rivalry with Roy Williams.

2019: Won NCAA Tournament Championship

In 2019, Tony Bennett's Cavalier squad won the NCAA tournament championship with a 35-3 team.

2019: Virginia won the 2019 NCAA Tournament Championship Game

In 2019, Virginia achieved a significant victory by winning the NCAA Tournament Championship Game against Texas Tech, with a score of 85-77 in overtime. The year was also marked by ESPN calling Virginia's championship run "the most redemptive season in the history of college basketball."

2019: Virginia in the 18-game era

Under Tony Bennett's guidance, Virginia had four of the five teams with records of 16-2 or better in the 18-game era (2012-2019) of ACC play.

2020: Joe Harris led the league in three-point field goal shooting percentage

In 2020, Joe Harris led the league in three-point field goal shooting percentage again. Joe Harris also is one of the NBA's All-Time Top 5 shooters in three-point field goal shooting percentage.

2020: Joe Harris led NBA in three-point accuracy again

In 2020, Joe Harris, who was coached by Tony Bennett, again led the NBA in three-point accuracy.

2020: Mamadi Diakite and Braxton Key graduated in 2020

In 2020, Mamadi Diakite and Braxton Key graduated on an 8-game ACC winning streak but without a chance to play in the unfinished ACC tournament or to defend their NCAA Championship.

2021: Contract Extended

In 2013-14, Tony Bennett signed a new seven-year contract to extend his employment with Virginia through 2021.

2021: Junior Trey Murphy III was drafted 17th in the first round of the 2021 NBA draft

In 2021, after a highly productive year, junior Trey Murphy III was drafted 17th in the first round of the 2021 NBA draft.

2023: Virginia lost to Duke in the 2023 ACC Tournament championship game

In 2023, Virginia tied with Miami for the regular season title but lost to Duke in the ACC Tournament championship game. They also lost to Furman in the NCAA Tournament.

October 18, 2024: Bennett retires from coaching college basketball

On October 18, 2024, Tony Bennett retired from coaching college basketball due to the state of unregulated NIL money and transfers. He plans to remain around the Virginia program in a part-time role.

2024: Ryan Dunn was selected in the 1st round of the 2024 NBA draft

In 2024, Ryan Dunn, who led the conference in blocked shots, declared for and was selected in the 1st round of the 2024 NBA draft by the Denver Nuggets. Sam Hauser also won an NBA Championship with the '24 Boston Celtics.