Tony Bennett, the only basketball coach to guide Washington State to three consecutive postseason tournaments, resigned Monday to accept the head coaching job at the University of Virginia. Bennett posted a 69-33 record in three years at WSU in his first college head coaching job.
• Bennett successors? An early list of potential WSU candidates

Bennett, the national coach of the year in 2006-07, signed new WSU contracts for significant pay raises after each of his first two seasons. Last year, he signed a seven-year contract that guaranteed him the first $1 million annual salary in WSU history. Bennett owes WSU $400,000 in buyout money, a WSU official said.

The Cougars tied the school record 26 wins each of Bennett's first two seasons and went to the NCAA Tournament in back-to-back years for the only time in school history.

The Cougars played freshmen in key roles this season and finished 17-16 after a first-round loss in the National Invitation Tournament.

Bennett served three years as WSU’s top assistant coach under his father, Dick. When Dick Bennett retired in 2006 after the Cougars’ 10th consecutive losing season, Tony was quickly named to replace him.

“Dick and Tony Bennett have elevated the men’s basketball program at Washington State to an unprecedented level of success,” WSU athletic director Jim Sterk said in a statement. “We will begin a national search for a coach immediately with the goal of finding someone with the integrity, experience and values that Dick and Tony brought to the program.”

Bennett, 39, replaces Dave Leitao at Virginia. Leitao posted a 63-60 record in four years with the Cavaliers before resigning at the end of this season.

Leitao guided Virginia to winning seasons and postseason tournaments in each of his first three seasons, then went 10-18 this season with a first-round loss in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament. Virginia finished 11th in the 12-team ACC with a 4-12 conference record, and attendance suffered.

The Cavaliers had only two seniors this year, and neither was a regular starter. Virginia’s top six scorers are set to return.

Virginia shared the ACC regular-season championship with North Carolina and went to the NCAA Tournament in 2006-07, but the Cavaliers’ only ACC Tournament title came in 1976. Washington State hasn’t won a regular-season conference championship since 1940-41 and has never won a conference tournament.

Bennett, who did not immediately respond to interview requests, met with WSU players Monday afternoon to inform them of his decision to leave.

“I was so shocked,” freshman guard Klay Thompson told the Spokesman-Review of Spokane. “But it’s life. I’ll adjust. As far as my future, I don’t know what I’m going to do. I’ll see who they’re going to bring in.”

There was no immediate word on the fate of Bennett’s assistant coaches.

A WSU statement said Virginia contacted the Cougars last Friday to ask for permission to speak with Bennett. Earlier last week, Bennett had said he did not expect to be sought by any schools after his name popped up repeatedly regarding job openings the previous two years.

“The last couple years, I was the flavor of the month,” Bennett joked. “This year, I’m back to vanilla, I think. You don’t have to worry.”


THE NEXT WSU HEAD COACH?

Here’s an early list of potential candidates to succeed Bennett at WSU, their current employers, and their resumes:

Randy Bennett, St. Mary’s: One of the hot coaches in the NCAA, Bennett has made St. Mary’s a perennial WCC title contender. No relation to Tony.

Dan Monson, Long Beach State: The coach who helped build Gonzaga into the power that it is today.

Ken Bone, Portland State: A former UW assistant, Bone has made PSU one of the top programs in the Big Sky.

Larry Krystkowiak, unemployed: One-time head coach of Milwaukee Bucks and University of Montana, helped lead the Griz to NCAA first-round upset of Nevada in 2006.

Billy Grier, San Diego: Former top assistant at Gonzaga got USD to tourney and a win over UConn two years ago.

Matt Woodley, Washington State assistant: Hired when Tony Bennett became head coach, he’s a respected recruiter.

Bobby Knight, ESPN: Someone – most likely someone named Dick Vitale – will bring Knight’s name up.

Ryan Divish, The News Tribune