Virginia coaching candidates: Ron Sanchez named interim coach for 2024-25, search begins to replace Bennett

National championship-winning Virginia men’s basketball coach Tony Bennett is retiring from the sport effectively immediately. That gobsmacking news landed Thursday with just 20 days separating the Cavs and their season opener against Campbell on Nov. 6.

It was announced at Bennett’s press conference Friday that current Cavaliers assistant coach Ron Sanchez, who left his job as head coach at Charlotte in 2023 to rejoin Bennett’s staff after he he previously an assistant at Virginia, will be elevated to interim head coach for this season. 

Given the timing and proximity to the start of the regular season, an internal hire always seemed most likely for this season. However, whether Sanchez retains the role and is elevated to the permanent job will be dependent upon how he fares in the coming months and how well he ingratiates himself in the new position. It’s a tough position for Sanchez, who inherits a team in the midst of a chaotic situation, and also for Virginia, which had little choice but to promote from within.

As the coming season plays out, Virginia decision-makers should — and likely will — cast a wide net to gather options for potential successors to Bennett in the meantime if for no other reason than to do due diligence. Sanchez should have every chance to earn the job outright and could be next in line to the throne. But this is a good job, in a good conference, with good resources. There will be good, proven coaches champing at the bit to interview for the job.

Here’s who may or may not be worth watching as UVA decision-makers weigh their options. 

Ron Sanchez

Sanchez was one of the original members of Tony Bennett’s staff when he started at Virginia in 2009 and has been an integral piece of building the Cavaliers into the consistent force they are now. Elevating him to interim head coach was the expectation and is now the reality. He left Bennett’s staff in 2018 and had a successful stint at Charlotte helping turn around a really difficult 49ers program before returning to Charlottesville — and leaving a head coaching job in the process — in 2023. He has familiarity with the program, head coaching experience and support within the building, and inherits a UVA team that we project will finish in the top five of the ACC this season.

Jason Williford

The other senior member of Bennett’s staff, Williford is in his 16th year with the program. He was promoted to associate head coach after the 2017-18 season. Williford played at Virginia and graduated in 1995. He had nine years of assistant coaching experience at Boston University and American University prior to his long concurrent stint at UVA.

Ryan Odom

Hard to imagine Odom making the move after taking the VCU job just last year. But it’s hard to deny that this wouldn’t be a considerable upgrade, too. Odom and his UMBC Retrievers famously beat Bennett’s Virginia team in the 2018 NCAA Tournament, becoming the first-ever No. 16 seed to defeat a No. 1 seed. He left UMBC with a 97-60 record and spent two seasons at Utah State — where he went 44-25 — before taking the VCU job that’s roughly an hour away from Charlottesville. Odom has quite a bit of respect in the area — including from Bennett, who has praised him publicly. 

Ritchie McKay

One of several members of Bennett’s coaching tree, McKay was on staff at Virginia from 2009-2015 as Associate Head Coach before moving on to become head coach at Liberty. He’s 244-127 at Liberty with five regular season conference titles in his last six seasons. 

Bucky McMillan

Virginia was consistently amongst the best defensive teams in college basketball but also struggled on offense in Bennett’s final years, which may prompt Virginia to look for a coach with a starkly different style. McMillan would provide that. The 41-year-old is the architect of an efficient and fun style of basketball predicated on tempo — which has been labeled “Bucky Ball” — that could bring UVA’s offense into the 21st century. He’s entering his fifth season at Stamford after coaching at the high school level but could be in line for bigger jobs, and soon.