2009.03.31
Bennett to bring one assistant ?
Seattle Times columnist Bud Withers wrote in a column updated earlier this evening that new Virginia men's basketball coach Tony Bennett is thought to be bringing only one assistant with him from Washington State, Ron Sanchez.
Sanchez is in his sixth year on the Cougars' staff, the first three as coordinator of basketball operations. Born in the Dominican Republic, Sanchez lists New York as his hometown. He played at Oneonta (N.Y.) State and spent two years as a volunteer assistant at Indiana.
As soon as Tony Bennett has been hired, recruits are questioning whethere is style of play is what they really want! It's going to be interesting to see if he can overcome it!
Comment by Nelson — April 1, 2009 @ 4:41 am
Bennett has his pluses: All coaches have their pluses, right?
USA today ranks the nation's 347 Division 1 schools in order from 1-347.
Number 347 was NJIT(New Jersey Tech).
http://www.njithighlanders.com/coaches.aspx?rc=143&path=mbball
They went 1-30 this year!
Their head coach is Jim Engles in his first year. Below is what he's done as an assistant coach:
"In two of his stops—Wagner and Columbia, he was involved in noteworthy program turnarounds.
At Wagner, he was part of the best winning percentage turnaround in all of Division I basketball, as the Seahawks went from four wins in 1990-91 to 16 wins in 1991-92, his first season as a full-time (assistant) coach. A year later, Wagner played for the Northeast Conference championship on national television and won a school-record 18 games."
At Columbia, he was part of a new staff that achieved instant results upon its arrival in 2003-04. The previous season, Columbia was 2-25 overall and winless in 14 Ivy League games. In Engles’ first season, the Lions produced a 10-17 overall record, including a 6-8 mark in the Ivy League.
In 2006-07, Columbia posted a 16-12 record, the program’s best in 15 years. In 2007-08, the Lions were 14-15 overall, plus 7-7 in the Ivy for a second straight year, matching the program’s best league record since it was 10-4 in 1992-93.
His six-year run at Rider included the 2001-02 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference regular season title with a 13-5 conference record and Rider’s first-ever berth in the postseason National Invitation Tournament (1998 after an 18-win regular season).
Engles, who starred at St. Peter’s High School on Staten Island has strong basketball bloodlines."
Comment by Nelson — April 1, 2009 @ 5:02 am
Is this the same Tony Bennett who left his heart in San Francisco?
Seriously, when was PAC-10 BB the equivalent of the A10, let alone the ACC?
Meanwhile, Calipari to Kentucky.....................
Comment by SKEPTICAL OBSERVER — April 1, 2009 @ 6:53 am
i admit it's stupid to pre-judge, but there have to be questions.
No matter how good a coach you are, recruiting is the name of the game. In his first two years as head coach, he did great, but in his third, when presumably he had the guys he recruited, he was 17-16.
Are you going to score great recruits for a team that plays Ivy League slow-down basketball in a league that worships the fast-break? Will he be able to convince them that they would be learning the skills they'll need to play in the NBA?
When the winning score is in the mid fifties, and the difference between winning and losing is about three points, what does it say about a coach who is 17-16?
Comment by Norm — April 1, 2009 @ 1:22 pm
He's already got two assistants. The head coach of Liberty is one and he's reportedly bringing a Mr. Sanchez from New York who was an assistant at Washington State under him and his father for six years. I am loving this hire more and more each day. To bad Leitao used the 3 exhibition games college basketball teams are allowed last year. It would have been great from him to have that as a head start. I just wonder if he's done with recruiting, because Dave was certainly looking to bring in another player..and run off a current one.
Comment by Don W. — April 1, 2009 @ 7:29 pm
I asked my wife what she thought about the new UVA coach and she responded "he looks like a Ken doll".
Comment by Joe — April 1, 2009 @ 8:14 pm
Wow! You folks picked a GREAT family pedigree for a coach. As a University of Wisconsin alumni, and longtime Badger Fan Dick & Tony Bennett represent the best in coaching. They make great teams, mold young men into great citizens, all while honouring the institution for which they work.
Tony will turn this program around, make the entire Commonwealth of Virginia proud, AND have the Cavs in the NCAA within two years. Good job UVa!
I never had a dog in the UVa v. VT hunt before, but now I do. You will look back on thi hire and sy that a long reach paid huge dividends!
Congratulations to you all! Go Bucky! Go Cavaliers!
Comment by Rich — April 8, 2009 @ 6:55 am