BENNETT GONE

COUGFAN.COM HAS CONFIRMED that Cougar head coach Tony Bennett is leaving Washington State to become the new head coach at Virginia. No other details are available but speculation on who will succeed him in Pullman will no doubt take off like a brushfire with two of his assistants perhaps being logical contenders.

Matt Woodley has been with Washington State the past three seasons, serving as the recruiting coordinator under Tony Bennett. He took on an increased role in scouting and game planning this past season.

Ben Johnson has been an assistant with Tony and Dick Bennett for many years and in fact played alongside Tony and under Dick and Wisconsin-Green Bay.

In three years at Washington State, Bennett was 69-33. The Cougs slipped to 17-16 this season after making the NCAA Tournament in Bennett's first two seasons.

Names that are sure to be talked about as potential successors in the coming days would likely include Randy Bennett, head coach at St Mary's; Ken Bone, head coach at Portland State; Ray Giacolleti, assistant coach at Gonzaga; Bill Grier, head coach at San Diego; Dan Monson, formerly of Gonzaga and now at Long Beach State.