Pac-12 Basketball: Top 10 head coaches of the century (2000-20)

By Joey Loose | Jun 24, 2020

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 16: Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott presents Payton Pritchard #3 of the Oregon Ducks with the Most Outstanding Player award after the Ducks' 68-48 victory over the Washington Huskies to win the championship game of the Pac-12 basketball tournament at T-Mobile Arena on March 16, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

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LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 11: Head Coach Tony Bennett of the Washington State Cougars (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

8. Tony Bennett – Washington State (2006-2009)

Before changing the world with Virginia, Bennett got his head coaching career started in 2006. After playing college ball and coaching under father Dick, he succeeded him with the Cougars and got right to work. Years before he put together these fantastic teams with the Cavaliers, Bennett was already making a huge impact on college basketball.

While leading the Cougars, Bennett put up a 69-33 record in his three seasons, which seems otherworldly when you consider the current state of the program. He won 26 games and made the NCAA Tournament in each of his first two seasons, including a trip to the Sweet Sixteen in 2008. Throw in his NIT appearance in his final season and Bennett had a more than successful three seasons with the Cougars.

Bennett led Virginia to the national championship in 2019 and one can only wonder what he would have done had he stayed at Washington State. Meanwhile, the Cougars have not returned to the NCAA Tournament since that 2008 run to the Sweet Sixteen. Bennett’s successors have greatly failed to keep the program relevant while he’s become one of the nation’s greatest coaches, continuing to build national contenders with the Cavaliers.

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