Who is Tony Bennett? Lakers hire ex-Virginia coach as NBA draft advisor

The Los Angeles Lakers have added Tony Bennett to their front office, hiring the former Virginia head coach as an NBA Draft advisor on Wednesday. Bennett, a three-time NCAA National Coach of the Year, stepped away from coaching in October 2024. Bennett enjoyed a highly successful career at Virginia, where he led the Virginia Cavaliers from 2009 to 2024. During that span, he guided the program to its first national championship in the 2018–19 season and earned four Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year awards. He finished his Virginia tenure with an impressive 364-136 record.

Before arriving in Charlottesville, Bennett coached at Washington State from 2006 to 2009, compiling a 69-33 record. Known for his disciplined approach and defensive focus, Bennett now brings his basketball insight and evaluation skills to the Lakers as they prepare for future NBA drafts.



"We're thrilled and honored to welcome Tony as an advisor to the Lakers basketball operations department," Lakers president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka said in a media statement.

"As we refine and build out our NBA draft and scouting processes, we could think of no better basketball mind than Tony Bennett to have as a resource. Tony's track record of forming culture, with high-character, high-skill and high-IQ players is revered and respected across all basketball circles. Tony will be an incredible asset to our basketball leadership, to our scouts and to our draft department as a whole. We are truly excited."

Tony Bennett followed in the footsteps of his father, Dick Bennett, who was also a well-known coach. He became Virginia’s head coach in 2009 and quickly transformed the program.

"When Rob and I began talking, what stood out to me was the chance to help out such a storied organization," Bennett said. "The Lakers carry a tradition that speaks for itself, so to be connected to it and assist Rob and the Lakers in any way I can is exciting."

Bennett’s teams sent 13 players to the NBA draft, highlighting his strong record of developing pro-ready talent. That group includes Malcolm Brogdon, a former NBA Rookie of the Year, and Joe Harris, a two-time NBA leader in three-point percentage.

Several of Bennett’s former players are still active in the league today. They include De'Andre Hunter with the Sacramento Kings, Ty Jerome with the Memphis Grizzlies, Ryan Dunn with the Phoenix Suns, and Trey Murphy III with the New Orleans Pelicans.

Bennett is famous for his disciplined coaching style and defensive philosophy, especially the 'Pack Line' defense. His teams were known for teamwork, patience, and strong fundamentals rather than flashy play. Under his leadership, Virginia became a national powerhouse, regularly competing at the top of college basketball. The highlight of his career came in 2019, when he led Virginia to its first-ever NCAA championship.

Before beginning his coaching career, Tony Bennett played four seasons of professional basketball, including three years in the NBA with the Charlotte Hornets from 1992 to 1995.

A native of Wisconsin, Bennett was selected 35th overall in the second round of the 1992 NBA Draft. He entered the league after completing a four-year college career at the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay from 1988 to 1992. During his time there, he played under his father, Dick, gaining early exposure to the disciplined style of basketball that would later define his own coaching philosophy.