According to sources who spoke with ESPN, Arizona State is poised to finalize a five-year agreement with Randy Bennett of Saint Mary’s, appointing him as the Sun Devils’ forthcoming head coach.
Sources indicated that Bennett apprised his team of his impending exit during a Monday afternoon gathering.
ESPN sources disclosed that Saint Mary’s plans to elevate associate head coach Mickey McConnell as Bennett’s successor. McConnell, who competed under Bennett from 2007 to 2011, has been a member of the Gaels’ coaching staff since 2019.
Bennett, aged 63, a native of Arizona, has spearheaded Saint Mary’s to 12 NCAA tournament bids since assuming leadership in 2001. During his tenure, Saint Mary’s secured at least a portion of four consecutive WCC regular-season titles and participated in each of the last five NCAA tournaments. The Gaels achieved a Sweet 16 showing in 2010 as a 2-seed, triumphing over Villanova in the second round.
Prior to Bennett’s commencement in 2001, Saint Mary’s had only managed three NCAA tournament entries and claimed four conference championships, with the Gaels posting a 2-27 record in the season preceding his appointment.
He transformed Saint Mary’s into one of the country’s most reliable mid-major programs under his leadership, securing at least 20 victories in 18 of the last 19 campaigns, including a 30-win season in 2017-18. Following being listed in the AP top 25 in only two seasons throughout the program’s existence, the Gaels attained a ranking for at least one week in 12 distinct seasons with Bennett at the helm, encompassing eight of the last 10 seasons. Bennett garnered the West Coast Conference Coach of the Year award seven times, fostering a robust conference rivalry with Mark Few and the mid-major giant, Gonzaga.
At Arizona State, Bennett is set to succeed Bobby Hurley, whose agreement was not extended beyond the recent season. Hurley commanded the team in Tempe for 11 seasons, leading the Sun Devils to three NCAA tournament berths.
This appointment represents a crucial step for ASU and further demonstrates the heightened dedication to sports at the institution, a facet previously subject to scrutiny.
Bennett’s recruitment and the initial NCAA tournament showing by first-year women’s coach Molly Miller have injected renewed vigor into ASU basketball. In football, ASU participated in a College Football Playoff event under Kenny Dillingham in 2024 and subsequently secured Dillingham with a five-year contract that encompassed substantial program pledges. Athletic director Graham Rossini, onboarded in May of 2024, has propelled ASU’s progress in both the university’s premier and lesser-funded sports.
ASU claimed the inaugural Big 12’s Commissioner’s Cup, an award ascertained by graduation achievement percentages, conference regular season and postseason championships, and campus-based initiatives emphasizing community engagement, psychological well-being, and professional advancement.