Suns’ Ryan Dunn supports former coach Tony Bennett’s sudden retirement

Ryan Dunn maintains that his former Virginia coach, Tony Bennett, is retiring after 15 years, which he officially announced on October 18. Phoenix Suns The rookie also advocates for college athletes to make money — sometimes seven figures — from their name, image and likeness.

The evolution of the NIL system in college athletics, as well as the widespread use of the transfer portal by athletes, were cited by Bennett in his resignation.

“It’s changing dramatically,” Dunn told The Arizona Republic. “My first year was kind of the beginning, and we’re seeing people making $4 million, $5 million in college and kids driving Mercedes and Porsches and stuff, which is awesome. Don’t get me wrong no, I love it.

“But I think there are some coaches in this league that don’t fly on that side. They’re more like traditional college basketball where you just come and compete as a program. Kids are paying to play now , which I respect and understand.

Dunn, who entered the 2024 draft after his sophomore season, added that Bennett is “more of a traditional guy” who he is grateful for because “he’s done a lot for this program, he’s done a lot for me.”

Bennett, who led Virginia to the 2019 NCAA title and rebuilt the program into a national power, resigned due to the “current environment” in which “college athletics is not in a healthy situation.”

A new law took effect July 1 in Virginia that would make it easier for public universities to offer NIL opportunities to student-athletes.

Bennett joins a growing list of former elite college coaches who have been outspoken about NIL changing the landscape of college sports. They include Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski, North Carolina’s Roy Williams, Villanova’s Jay Wright and Nick Saban, the former face of Alabama football, all of whom retired in 2021.

“The hardest thing to say was when I looked at myself and realized that I am no longer the best coach to lead this program in today’s environment,” Bennett said during his conference. press for his retirement. “If you’re going to do it, you’ve got to go all out. If you do it half-heartedly, it’s not fair to the university and these young men. So, when I think about it, that’s what I’m excited about. pushed him to resign.”

Bennett supports college athletes being paid, but is not in favor of coaches losing control of their own programs. Bennett believes college sports will move closer to “a professional model” that involves collective bargaining. But he also wants restrictions on payroll, stricter transfer rules, limitations on agents’ involvement with student-athletes and concerns about negative influence on their mental health.

“I think it’s fair that student-athletes receive income. Don’t get me wrong,” Bennett said. “College football and athletics are not in a healthy place. It’s not. And there has to be change, and it’s not coming back. I think I was equipped to do the job here old-fashioned. This is who I am.

There have been 1,094 players who have entered the 2024 transfer portal cycle, per The On3 Men’s College Basketball Tracker.

Dunn further explained how the development of college players and their teams can be balanced by payroll, or not at all due to players leaving for financially greener pastures.

“I think it depends on the program and their values ​​and their culture,” Dunn said. “I think some programs have the money to do it, and they can still have their program and their development.

“But there are also programs that say ‘Hey, we can just give you this money and you can go play for us for a year and transfer or leave.’ … We’re getting to the point where it’s not really a program, it’s just an organization. It’s more about the money involved than anything else.

Dunn is averaging 8.0 points and shooting 46.2% from 3 in his first three games for the Suns. He had 13 points as a starter in Saturday’s home win over Dallas..

This article was originally published on Arizona Republic: Suns’ Dunn supports Virginia coach Bennett’s retirement, NIL college climate