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NBA interested in Virginia basketball coach Tony Bennett but is the feeling mutual?

By Brad Berreman

Jan 9, 2021; Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA; Virginia Cavaliers head coach Tony Bennett reacts to a foul during the second half of a game against the Boston College Eagles at Conte Forum. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 9, 2021; Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA; Virginia Cavaliers head coach Tony Bennett reacts to a foul during the second half of a game against the Boston College Eagles at Conte Forum. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports /
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Virginia basketball coach Tony Bennett has rebuffed all interest from the NBA and reportedly has no interest in leaving college basketball for the NBA.

Virginia basketball coach Tony Bennett has had a nice tenure with the Cavaliers and it’s expected to continue much longer while the NBA will continue to pry him out of Charlottesville.

Bennett comes up as a candidate for other college jobs. But it would take a unique opportunity to get him to leave Virginia, and they aren’t firing him anytime soon.

On Tuesday ESPN NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski appeared on the Green Light podcast, hosted by former NFL defensive end and Virginia alum Chris Long. Long asked Wojnarowski about Bennett and whether he would entertain leaving Charlottesville if the NBA came calling.

Wojnarowski’s response should put Virginia basketball fans at ease.

“I’ve talked to a number of NBA teams when they’ve had openings, it was a no,” Wojnarowski said.  It was a ‘not even going to have a conversation with you.’ Yeah, that interest has been there. And you talk about a guy who’s loyal to where he is and seems to love what he’s doing.”

Virginia basketball coach Tony Bennett has no interest in the NBA

College coaches are able to set the tone for and shape their entire program. The head coach is down the pecking order in an NBA organization where there is the owner, president and general manager ahead on the corporate ladder unless he has a dual role to give him say over personnel.

There hasn’t been a long line of successful college basketball coaches making the jump the NBA and thriving. Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens is experiencing what it’s like when the honeymoon period ends. The former Butler head coach turned down a reported $70 million from Indiana but elected to remain in the NBA.

Former Michigan and West Virginia coach John Beilein famously flamed out with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Credit to Bennett for knowing he has a good situation at Virginia. And, assuming the opportunities that have come his way being generally of that ilk, not being drawn to a rebuild job in the NBA.

Through 12 seasons in Charlottesville, he has a 295-103 record (149-62 in the ACC) with five regular-season conference titles and two conference tournament titles. The Cavaliers won the national title in 2019.

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