What Tony Bennett means to a lifelong Virginia fan

We felt like him somehow our Coach, right?

I mean, when we join a team, we naturally consider it “ours”. But coach Tony Bennett feels like a personal figure to some – especially those of us young enough to call ourselves lifelong fans.

I started watching Virginia Cavaliers basketball in 2011, just two years into Bennett’s tenure at Virginia. Without revealing my age, I can admit that I was young then – a child, actually.

As a little girl playing basketball for the first time, I watched Bennett not only on the sidelines, but also in the press. I listened to what he had to say, like you would in the locker room at halftime.

I later met him when I was 16 years old while visiting Grounds for a summer basketball camp.

“It’s so nice to meet you, sir. My dad and I think you’re just the greatest to ever do this.”

He thanked me very humbly and even though I knew I had interrupted his day, he stayed a moment to ask about me.

I returned to my practice at camp where the other girls asked, “Who was that?” I couldn’t believe they were so clueless!

“This is my hero.”

I’m a little more grown up now and don’t play competitively anymore, but Virginia basketball is still all I’ve ever known. I proudly joined the Packline defense, cheered forced shot clock violations, adopted his Five Pillars, and faithfully cheered on the Hoos when college basketball doubted them most.

And for over ten years I have cried every time I lost at the end of a season. With one exception in 2019. Those were tears of joy.

That was my whole life. And I am a better person because of it.

Coach Bennett has always expressed the privilege of his position. He constantly reminds us of what is important. For him, basketball was the opportunity to achieve his self-proclaimed goal.

From the young girl still inside me: You did your job, Coach.

And we are better for it.