Home UVa. coach Tony Bennett is finalist for Naismith Men’s College Coach of the Year
Sports News

UVa. coach Tony Bennett is finalist for Naismith Men’s College Coach of the Year

Contributors

tony-bennett-newlinks2Fifth-year UVa. head coach Tony Bennett was named a finalist for the 2014 Naismith Men’s College Coach of the Year, announced Thursday (March 20) by the Atlanta Tipoff Club.

Joining Bennett as Naismith Men’s College Coach of the Year finalists were John Beilein (Michigan), Larry Brown (SMU), Billy Donovan (Florida) and Gregg Marshall (Wichita State).

Bennett has guided Virginia to a 28-6 overall record and led the Cavaliers to their sixth (second outright) ACC regular-season title and second ACC Tournament championship. Virginia’s 16-2 ACC regular-season record set a school mark and tied the league record for most wins in a season.

Bennett’s Cavaliers lead the nation in scoring defense at 55.3 points per game and Virginia’s 13 consecutive ACC wins from January 18 through March 1 also set a school record. Virginia clinched its third consecutive ACC winning season (16-2, 11-7, 9-7) for the first time since 1981-83. With 16 ACC wins, Virginia joined Georgia Tech (1982-86) as the only ACC schools to improve their ACC records in five consecutive seasons. Virginia also set a school record with by winning 12 ACC games by 10 or more points.

Under Bennett’s guidance, Virginia secured its third straight 20-win season for the first time since 1991-93. The Cavaliers are also one of three teams (NC Central and Southeast Missouri State) in the nation to improve its win total in each of the past five seasons.

In 2006-07, Bennett earned consensus National Coach of the Year and Pac-10 Coach of the Year honors as head coach at washington state.

The Cavaliers earned their fourth No. 1 seed for the NCAA Tournament and will face No. 16 seed Coastal Carolina on Friday (March 21) in the second round at PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C. Tipoff is set for approximately 9:25 p.m.

Contributors

Contributors

Have a guest column, letter to the editor, story idea or a news tip? Email editor Chris Graham at [email protected]. Subscribe to AFP podcasts on Apple PodcastsSpotifyPandora and YouTube.

Latest News

snow and ice sunrise sunset
Virginia News

Snow, sleet, freezing rain possible on Saturday in Virginia, West Virginia

non dairy milk
Local News

Rockingham County: Teamsters announce deal with Danone with pay, benefit increases

Teamsters Local 29, which represents 550 dairy workers at the Danone North America plant in Rockingham County, have ratified a new contract that includes significant pay and benefit increases. “Our members deserve a great contract that reflects the sacrifice and commitment they provide to making Danone successful, and that is exactly what we accomplished,” said...

kymora johnson uva basketball
Basketball, Sports

Women’s Basketball: #22 Florida State coasts past Virginia, 101-68

Florida State, up 18 at halftime, erased all doubt with a 34-point third quarter, on its way to a 101-68 rout of Virginia on Thursday at JPJ.

mom and daughter, Tammy and Kaitlyn Duffy
Virginia News

‘Make a plan’: Virginia mom fulfills promise to daughter who was killed by a drunk driver

Local News

Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library to display Kushnir art of Shenandoah Valley

baseball
Baseball, Sports

Fredericksburg Nationals will pay homage to all-Black team in 2025 season

ben cline elon musk
Politics, U.S. & World News

Elon Musk fanboy Ben Cline goes to bat for neo-Nazi billionaire buddy