CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Former Virginia basketball coach Tony Bennett, who guided the Cavaliers to the 2019 national championship, then stunned the sport by retiring in October 2024, was honored Saturday during a pre-game ceremony at John Paul Jones Arena that saw UVA name the court in his honor.

“This is overwhelming,” Bennett, who went 364-136 record in 15 seasons at Virginia from 2009-24, told the crowd. “My heart is full. I’m overwhelmed by this. I pray that this program and how we did it was a bright light for all of you.”

Bennett said the names of all his former players, assistants and staff are inside the court decal of his signature.

The pre-game ceremony to honor Bennett, who has never craved attention, lasted just over seven minutes. It included current coach Ryan Odom presenting Bennett with a gift, a painting of Tony with his father. The painting was done Kyan Patel, a Richmond native and current student at Wake Forest.

Current coach Ryan Odom, whose team was preparing to play Miami, addressed the crowd and said, “the example you set for all of us. you’re what college basketball is supposed to be about.”

A number of former players were in an attendance, including Malcolm Brogdon, Joe Harris, Jay Huff, Anthony Gill,  London Perrantes, along with former AD Craig Littlepage, the man who hired Bennett in 2009.

A four-time ACC Coach of the Year, Bennett took the Cavaliers to 10 NCAA Tournaments, won two ACC tournament titles and six ACC regular-season championships.

Bennett, who also went 69-33 and reached two NCAA Tournaments with Washington State from 2007-09, announced his retirement from coaching on Oct. 18, 2024, a month before the start of the 2024-25 season.