Top candidates to replace Tony Bennett at Virginia
Tony Bennett shook up the football news cycle in a dramatic manner on Thursday when the University of Virginia confirmed his immediate resignation as the program's basketball coach.
The announcement was especially surprising since Bennett had recently participated in the ACC Media Tipoff and had just signed a contract extension through 2030.
The news came less than three weeks before the start of the 2024-25 season and there is no word yet on who will take over as interim coach. If there is a planned successor, their name has not been made public at this time.
The question of who will permanently lead the prestigious program may be answered next offseason, but for now, here are the top three candidates to take over for the upcoming season.
RON SANCHEZ
Sanchez followed Bennett from Washington State to Virginia before leaving to become the head coach of the Charlotte 49ers from 2018-23. He returned to the Cavaliers this year as an associate head coach and is likely the top choice to take over as interim coach. Sanchez began his coaching career at SUNY Oneonta in 1996.
JASON WILLIFORD
Williford was promoted to associate head coach when Sanchez left for Charlotte and the Cavaliers won the national championship in his first season in the role. He has strong ties to the program, having played for Virginia for four years and winning the NIT championship in 1992. Williford joined Bennett's staff in 2009 after working as an assistant at American University and Boston University.
BRAD SODERBERG
Soderberg currently serves as the Cavaliers' director of scouting and has head coaching experience at Lindenwood, St. Louis, South Dakota State, and Loras College. He also served as interim head coach at Wisconsin in 2000-01. Soderberg joined Bennett's staff in 2015 and moved into the director of scouting role in 2021.
Virginia, who had a 23-11 record and made the NCAA Tournament last season, will begin their 2024-25 campaign on November 6th at home against Campbell.
