Washington State's Bennett to Virginia

PULLMAN, Wash., March 30 (UPI) -- Washington State announced Monday that men's basketball Coach Tony Bennett has accepted the head coaching job at Virginia.

Virginia asked for permission to speak with Bennett last Friday and Bennett told Washington State on Monday of his decision to accept the position at Virginia.

Bennett has spent the last three seasons at Washington. He led the Cougars to back-to-back 26-win campaigns in his first two years. Washington went 17-16 this past season and lost in the first round of the NIT.

Former Virginia Coach Dave Leitao, the first African-American head coach in any sport at the school, resigned March 16 after leading the Cavaliers to a 63-60 record and three post-season berths, including an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2007, when he was named ACC Coach of the Year following a 21-11 season.