“I have more than enough,” Coach rejects pay rise so that other staff can earn more

Tony Bennett, the University of Virginia basketball coach, has declined a raise in his salary.

Coming off of a 2019 national title win, Bennett asked that the money be used to pay his staff more and for improvements to both his program as well as other Virginia teams.

“I have more than enough, and if there are ways that this can help out the athletic department, the other programs and coaches, by not tying up so much in men’s basketball, that’s my desire,” he said.

The coach and his wife, Laurel, have also pledged $500,000 toward a career-development program started to assist current and former UVA men’s basketball players.