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

Ryan Dunn supports his former Virginia coach Tony Bennett retiring after 15 years, which he officially announced on Oct. 18. However, the Phoenix Suns rookie also advocates college athletes earning money — sometimes in seven figures — from their name, image, and likeness.

The evolving NIL system in college athletics, along with the widespread use of the transfer portal by athletes, were cited by Bennet in stepping down.

“It’s changing drastically,” Dunn said to The Arizona Republic. “My freshman year was kind of the start of it, and we see people getting $4 million, $5 million dollars in college and kids driving Mercedes and Porsches and things, which is great. Don’t get me wrong, I love it.

“But I think there are some coaches in that league that don’t fly on that side. They’re more kind of the traditional college basketball where you just come and compete as a program. Kids are now pay-to-play, which I respect and I get it.”

Ryan Dunn on his ex-Virginia coach/2019 NCAA title winner Tony Bennett retiring because NIL changed college sports: “He’s more of a traditional guy. I think that’s kind of the reason why. I give him a lot of credit. He’s done a lot for that program, he’s done a lot for me.” #Suns pic.twitter.com/XItdH7FgKC

— DANA (@iam_DanaScott) October 27, 2024

Dunn, who entered the 2024 draft after his sophomore season, added Bennett is “more of a traditional guy” that he’s grateful to because “he’s done a lot for that 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, stepped down because of the “current environment” in which “college athletics is not in a healthy spot.”

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

Bennett joins a growing list of elite former college coaches who have been outspoken about NIL changing the landscape of college sports. They…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/suns-ryan-dunn-supports-former-215300347.html

Author : AZCentral | The Arizona Republic

Publish date : 2024-10-28 21:53:00

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