A report by the Field of 68's Jeff Goodman shocked the college basketball world Thursday afternoon. A source told Goodman that Tony Bennett would retire as the Virginia Cavaliers men's basketball coach effective immediately.

Shortly after Goodman broke the story, the Virginia men's basketball program confirmed the report via its account on X, formerly Twitter: "BREAKING: Tony Bennett to announce his immediate retirement in a press conference on Friday at 11 a.m."

UVA is slated to begin its season on November 6th, in less than three weeks, with a non-conference game against the Campbell Fighting Camels.

Bennett did appear at the ACC men's basketball media day last week with two player representatives from his team. The NCAA March Madness national championship-winning head coach did not mention a potential retirement during his remarks at the podium.

Tony Bennett has been around basketball his entire life. Born and raised in central Wisconsin, the two-time Naismith College Coach of the Year played college basketball at Wisconsin-Green Bay under the tutelage of his father, Dick Bennett.

After a brief stint as an assistant under his father and Bo Ryan with the Wisconsin Badgers, Bennett became an assistant and later head coach for the Washington State Cougars before heading to Charlottesville.

While at Virginia, Bennett led the Hoosiers to two ACC tournament titles, six first-place finishes in the conference regular season standings, and one national championship -- the only NCAA tournament championship in program history.

This article will be updated.

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