By Jerry Ratcliffe
Normally, 20 minutes before gametime, Ryan Odom would be in the locker room, giving instructions to his Virginia basketball team. Saturday, Odom will be out on the court along with everyone else, celebrating the career of his predecessor, Tony Bennett.
UVA will officially name the playing floor at John Paul Jones Arena, “Tony Bennett Court,” for the winningest coach in Cavaliers history. The celebration will start 15 minutes before tipoff of Virginia’s game against North Carolina.
Fans are encouraged to be in their seats early for the sellout, with heavy traffic expected.
Odom and his UVA team will be on the court to take in the celebration, which will likely attract many of Bennett’s former players.
“Oh man, that’s going to be a special day,” Odom said this week. “We’re all excited for him and all of his staff that worked so hard to put Virginia basketball in an unbelievable position, a National Championship position. And all of his former players, for them to see this.
“I know how much our fans and players, people that love the school, appreciate what Coach Bennett has done for this program, but not only this program, what he’s done for this university, he and Laurel. The impact they’ve made on the people that they coached and the staff members that were here, the students in the university, and then the greater community. They continue to impact this community in a really positive way.
“This is just a small token of our appreciation for him and his family. And he’ll tell you it’s not just him. I know Laurel has been a big part of this tremendous run that they’ve had, and they found a special home here, which is really cool for all of us.”
Bennett, who produced a 364-136 record as Virginia’s head coach over 15 seasons, still lives in Charlottesville. He directed the Cavaliers to the national championship in 2019. He was voted ACC Coach of the Year honors four times and won two ACC Tournament titles, six ACC regular-season crowns and 10 NCAA tournament appearances.
He was also named National Coach of the Year three times and stepped down with an overall record at UVA and Washington State with a record of 433-169.
“Coach Bennett built a culture rooted in integrity, discipline and excellence, one that elevated Virginia men’s basketball into a national power,” said UVA athletics director Carla Williams. “His impact on our university, our athletic department, and the broader community endures. We look forward to this special occasion to honor his remarkable legacy at UVA.”
