In Weighing U-Va. Job, Bennett Faced a Heavy Decision

Washington State Athletic Director Jim Sterk has confirmed that Tony Bennett will leave the school to become the men's basketball coach at Virginia. During a teleconference late Monday night, Sterk provided a detailed account of the days leading up to Bennett's acceptance of the Virginia job.

-- On Thursday, Virginia contacted Sterk about speaking with Bennett. Sterk was told Virginia wanted to make a hire "within five days."

-- On Friday, Bennett visited Virginia. He returned to Pullman, Wash., on Friday night.

-- On Saturday morning, Bennett met with Sterk and Washington State President Elson S. Floyd. On Saturday afternoon, Virginia offered Bennett the job.

-- On Sunday, Bennett and Sterk spoke around noon Pacific time. "He felt like he was going to stay," Sterk said. Bennett also spoke to Floyd, who had the same impression.

-- On Monday, Bennett informed Sterk and Floyd he was going to go to Virginia. On Tuesday, Virginia confirmed that Bennett was its new men's basketball coach.

The big question, then, is what happened in the 24 hours between when Bennett said he wanted to stay at Washington State and his decision to take the Virginia job. Such wavering proves it was not an easy decision, which was evident when his father, Dick Bennett, said Monday night that he and Tony Bennett had five conversations during the weekend, yet still did not know on Monday morning which way his son was leaning.

"It was a 60-58 ballgame," Dick Bennett said. "My last comment to him was, 'Tony, you're in a win-win situation.' I don't know what tipped the scales."

Sterk said Bennett and wife Laurel had "sleepless nights" and "changed their mind," but finally felt like the time was right. The appeal of the ACC and John Paul Jones Arena, which opened in 2006, factored into the decision.

In Bennett's conversation with Sterk on Sunday, he revealed that Virginia had offered a "great package." Sterk said it was entirely not about the money, though, because Bennett planned on giving $100,000 of his salary back to Washington State for improvements to the basketball program.

Bennett accepted a retention bonus on March 15. Virginia will be responsible for a $400,000 buyout in Bennett's contract. He received $1 million per year at Washington State under a contract that ran through 2015.

Virginia announced Tuesday that Bennett will receive $1.7 million annually for five years. He also will receive a $500,000 signing bonus, and will get an additional $500,000 after his fifth year with the program.