Tony Bennett talks battling his own perspective and becoming more "transactional" in his mindset before retirement
The timing of Virginia Cavaliers coach Tony Bennett's decision to retire was less than ideal. Less than three weeks away from officially opening the 2024-25 season, UVA has had to deploy an interim coach. However, Bennett didn't plan for it to happen this way.
The timing of his resignation was due to a series of events where he had been reflecting on his emotions, perspective, and approach.
In an interview with CBS Sports' Matt Norlander on Friday, Tony Bennett shared that he was struggling to fully commit to the program while trying to fulfill his responsibilities.
“It wasn’t like I got this set and I planned this date,” Bennett shared. “If you’re battling things and you’re not all in and have the passion to give, you have to know who you are and you have to be all in with everything. If you know you’re fighting yourself in this, because you’re still recruiting, you’re still involved with stuff, you’re gonna have to keep building, and you’re always worrying about what’s next."
Bennett said he found himself feeling certain emotions amid his internal conflict.
"And I felt, even in the fall, I felt things I haven’t felt for a long time, or maybe I’ve been battling and coaching some of my perspective. Sometimes, you know, my anger. And people say, ‘Oh, you don’t get angry.'"
As a result, he found himself being more calculative in his attitude, simply focusing on the outcome rather than engaging in authentic connections. The shift concerned Bennett since he likes to operate primarily from a place of passion and not utility.
"But I felt myself becoming a little more transactional in mindset at times. And then I’d catch myself but I felt that battle being waged inside, and I never want to be like that. That’s why I’m not equipped for this.”
Tony Bennett's resignation opens up the transfer portal
Virginia’s interim coach Ron Sanchez and the coaching staff will have to put their playbook together as UVA plays its first game on Nov. 6. However, extended efforts will be needed as Tony Bennett’s resignation opens up the transfer portal for the next 30 days. According to the rules, the window begins the day after the coach officially exits.
With that, until Nov. 17, Virginia players can engage in conversations with other coaching staffs across the Division I circuit. However, entering the transfer portal will affect a player’s timeline.
Enrolled athletes cannot transfer or compete for a different school in the same academic year. That is, until the transferring player is a graduate, in which case the athlete can suit up for a new program in spring.
Luckily, for the first time in three years, Tony Bennett's roster did not have a graduate student. Nevertheless, players can still opt out of the Cavaliers, as they began the offseason expecting to play for Bennett.