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March 30, 2009 2:06 PM

Tony Bennett to Virginia UPDATED

Posted by Bob Condotta

This is going to break fast now but Tony Bennett is headed to Virginia to take over the Cavs.

It is being reported by the Charlottesville Daily Progress.

Here is their story.

One source I know also has confirmed it.

Bennett, along with his father, Dick, helped reshape the WSU program into one of the most competitive in the Pac-10 the last few years. But the Cougars were looking at a rebuilding process the next few seasons with the loss of four seniors off this year's squad.

Don't be surprised if former UW assistant and current Portland State head coach Ken Bone emerges as a leading candidate for the Cougars. WSU AD Jim Sterk spent a year as an associate AD at Seattle Pacific while Bone was basketball coach there.

More on this later as it develops.

A FEW MORE THOUGHTS ON THIS. ...

--- Someone in the comments section asked if this wouldn't be a job for Cameron Dollar. I don't see that happening. However, if Bone were to leave PSU for WSU I could see Dollar being a candidate in Portland. UW assistant Jim Shaw was also a candidate at Portland State in 2005 when Bone got the job and it's possible he might re-emerge there, as well. I have absolutely no doubt Bone would take this job if offered. It's Pac-10, more money, all the obvious reasons.

--- Another possibility at WSU could Randy Bennett of St. Mary's. Either Bone or Randy Bennett at WSU would mean UW coach Lorenzo Romar would be going twice annually against one of his best friends in the business.

--- Worth remembering that also on the PSU staff is former Husky player Curtis Allen.

--- Sterk does have experience at Portland State but not during the time Bone has been there.

--- Another possible WSU candidate also has UW ties --- Ray Giacoletti, now an assistant at Gonzaga and former head coach at Utah and Eastern. Giacoletti wanted the job six years ago when Dick Bennett wanted it. Giacoletti was a UW assistants for four years under Bob Bender remembered in large part for leading the recruitment of Todd MacCulloch.

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Comments (81)

We all knew his WSU success would only be a spring board to bigger and better things. Not that it's hard get much better than Pullman. Posted on March 30, 2009 at 2:24 PM by UWdomination. Jump to comment

I would agree that WSU does have to be a step up over PSU...and it will probably remain that way. But again, Im sure WSU was a step up over... Posted on March 30, 2009 at 3:18 PM by Myk. Jump to comment

Wow, my condolences to cougs people, especially in search of. I thought Bennett will build something promising in Pullman. Posted on March 30, 2009 at 2:26 PM by mUj. Jump to comment

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