CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Reaction to Virginia head basketball coach Tony Bennett’s sudden retirement coming from all over, even before he stepped into his Friday morning press conference.

UVA President Jim Ryan on X: “It’s impossible to capture in this space all you’ve accomplished as a coach, mentor, friend, colleague, & @UVA legend. So for now, I will simply say thank you, Tony Bennett, for 15 incredible seasons and 15 years of memories. We have been blessed by your presence. @UVAMensHoops”

Kyle Guy, Hoos basketball national champion and current coach staffer: “Best decision I ever made was to come play for him. My oldest son is named after him for a reason.”

Craig Littlepage, former UVA Athletics Director on WINA Morning News about when he was talking with Coach Bennett before hiring him in 2009: “One of the things he said during the opportunity we had to talk was ‘Craig, if you let me do it my way, I can promise you we can do something really special here at the University of Virginia’. And he made it very clear there were going to be some rough moments to get things started, but he felt that in the end, after he had a chance to not only recruit some outstanding kids, that once they were exposed to the types of things that he was going to instill in them in terms of values in and out of basketball, he felt as though we had a chance to do something really special and he certainly delivered on that promise.”

Dick Vitale, ESPN commentator and former coach: “I firmly believe college hoops lost another super leader of young ppl in Tony Bennett due the chaos caused by the transfer portal & the NIL . Just my opinion ! via @ESPN App”

Rick Pitino, current St. John’s and former Louisville head basketball coach: “If the news is true, college basketball just lost a man with incredible class, humility, and dignity. Tony Bennett is an awesome teacher of our game. You will be deeply missed!”

Seth Greenberg, ESPN and ACC analyst and former Virginia Tech head basketball coach: “Tony Bennett is the model coach. I think his legacy is he never compromised, he did it his way. He was a master teacher, communicator, motivator. But also, he was an ultimate mentor.”

Mark Few, Gonzaga head basketball coach on Field of 68: “”That’s a huge loss for our profession. He’s as good a person as there is in any walk of life. An incredible coach and better person. Bottom line, I hope he’s at peace with it. There’s a lot more to life than basketball. Tony and I are friends, and share the same values, and share the same faith.”

Matt Painter, Purdue head basketball coach: “Congrats to Tony Bennett on an incredible career and best of luck in retirement. His program was defined by class and respect and he was / is a great teacher and leader. He will be missed on the sidelines.”

Rick Carlisle, Indiana Pacers head coach and former Hoos’ player: “What an amazing career he’s had. He’s become a great friend of mine. He’s a great friend of the game. What he accomplished at Virginia is unprecedented with the basketball program. He’s just an amazing person and an amazing coach.”

Leonard Hamilton, Florida State head basketball coach: “Tony Bennett embodies everything a high-quality basketball coach should be. He built strong relationships with his players, worked seamlessly with his administration, and earned deep respect nationwide – not just as a basketball coach, but as person of great character and class. His presence will be deeply missed.”

Mark Packer, ACC Network host: ““When you think about Tony Bennett and what he represents and the University of Virginia and what that institution represents, it was a perfect fit.”

Jim Phillips, ACC Commissioner: “He is a legend who we will deeply miss having on the sidelines as well as his daily impact in the league, the sport and college athletics.”

Liberty University head basketball coach Ritchie McKay to reporter Mike Barber: “We’re losing someone that belongs on the Mount Rushmore of college basketball the last two decades.”

Klay Thompson, current Dallas Mavericks and former Golden State Warriors multi-NBA champion, played for Coach Bennett at Washington State: “Thank you for everything, Tony. One of the greatest coaches I ever played for and the reason I went to Wazzu. A true legend of the game, enjoy retirement, my friend.”