UVA Athletics wanted to honor Tony Bennett by putting his name on the court where he led eight teams to ACC titles, and the 2019 team to a national title.
Bennett, predictably, figured out a way to make the honor not about him, but about his people.
“I said, Is there any way, and this is what I’m most excited about, is there any way, inside that signature, that we can put every name of every manager, walk-on, player, support staff, coach?” Bennett told the sellout crowd at the John Paul Jones Arena on hand for Virginia’s game with Miami on Saturday.
Turns out, there was a way, which is how it is that everybody that was part of the UVA Basketball program in the Tony Bennett Era now has their name on the court with their coach.
“So, forever, we will be on that court together,” said Bennett, who retired on the eve of the 2024-2025 season, after compiling a program-record 364 wins in the 500 games that he coached over his 15 years at the helm.
A Who’s Who of ‘Hoos were on hand for the dedication ceremony – Malcolm Brogdon, Joe Harris, Anthony Gill and London Perrantes from the first group that Bennett led to Sweet 16 in 2014 and an Elite Eight in 2016, and Jay Huff from the 2019 national title team.
The current Cavaliers, who went on to post a thrilling 86-83 win over the ‘Canes, were also out on the floor for the ceremony, which Bennett acknowledged, given the stakes of the game, between the second- and third-place teams in the ACC.
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“You could be in the locker room getting ready, but you’re out here. It means a lot that you’re out here,” Bennett said.
“These players over here are still learning from you every day,” first-year UVA coach Ryan Odom told Bennett and the home crowd. “You don’t know that, but we talk about you often, and your players and the history of the program, and they’re proud of you as well.
“Thank you so much, from the bottom of my heart and all coaches out there, for the example that you set for all of us,” said Odom, who has the ‘Hoos at 24-3, 12-2 in the ACC, in his first year as the head basketball coach at the University. “You are what college basketball was meant to be about. What you did for this University, this program, you see these folks right here behind you, it says everything.”
Bennett made it a point to thank his wife, Laurel, his “rock,” who he said has told him that “retired me is a lot more fun and enjoyable than coaching me.”
“I’m glad she said that, because you spend a lot more time together when you’re retired,” said Bennett, who also acknowledged his sister, Kathi, who coached at three schools – Evansville, Indiana and Northern Illinois – making two NCAA Tournament appearances.
“She is by far the best coach in our family,” Bennett said, then seemed to catch himself – Tony and Kathi are the children of Dick Bennett, the guy who came up with the Pack-Line defense that Tony used as the foundation of his Virginia teams; Dick Bennett won 489 games in his career, and led Wisconsin to the 2000 Final Four.
“I’m sorry, Dad, whenever you listen to this, but she’s the one that invited a passion in me for the game when I was the little brother, and she modeled to me what it meant to be a fierce competitor,” Bennett said.
TB’s concluding remarks:
“My goal always was to honor the Lord as a coach, and I pray that this program and how we did it was a bright light to all of you,” Bennett said. “I’m so thankful in this. I feel like this is more than I deserve, but we’re all in this together. It’s about us, never about me. Thank you, guys. I appreciate everyone.”
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Chris Graham
