CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — In a significant move for Virginia’s basketball team, Athletic Director Carla Williams has chosen Ryan Odom to take over as head coach. Odom, formerly with VCU, has a notable connection to Virginia’s past, as his father was an assistant coach for the Cavaliers. His selection comes as a response to the unexpected departure of Tony Bennett, who left the program shortly before the 2024-25 season.
Odom is known for orchestrating one of college basketball’s most historic upsets. While coaching UMBC, he led his team to a stunning victory over Virginia in the 2018 NCAA Tournament, becoming the first No. 16 seed to topple a No. 1 seed. Fast forward seven years, and Odom is now tasked with returning Virginia to its past glory and number one seed contention, despite his surprising choice to leave Utah State for VCU just two years ago.
Tony Bennett’s retirement came unexpectedly, having achieved a 364-136 record over 15 seasons with Virginia, with ten appearances in the NCAA tournaments. During Bennett’s tenure, his assistant, Ron Sanchez, stepped in as interim head coach, guiding the Cavaliers to a 15-17 finish—marking their first losing season since Bennett’s inaugural year.
Following a defeat to Georgia Tech in the ACC Tournament, Williams decided not to keep Sanchez, turning her attention to finding a permanent replacement. While Ryan Odom was not the only candidate considered—others included Richard Pitino from New Mexico and Bryce Drew from Grand Canyon—his connections to Charlottesville made him a leading contender.
Odom’s roots run deep in Virginia, having grown up around the Cavaliers when his father served as an assistant coach in the 1980s. His early exposure to the program left a lasting impact, contributing to his desire to return. His coaching career includes significant success: first with UMBC in a 97-60 tenure, and then a surprising pivot to Utah State before returning east to coach VCU to notable achievements including an Atlantic 10 championship and NCAA appearances.
Despite his recent first-round loss to BYU, which concluded his VCU season, the deal with Virginia had been swiftly finalized. Now at the helm, Odom faces the challenge of revitalizing Virginia’s program, which hasn’t celebrated an NCAA Tournament victory since their national championship win in 2019. His own postseason record since the memorable upset over Virginia stands at 0-2 in the NCAA Tournament and 2-2 in the NIT.
Odom’s appointment will be officially announced at a news conference at the John Paul Jones Arena, where he will be formally welcomed as the new head coach, marking the beginning of a new chapter in Virginia basketball history.
