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Arizona State introduces new basketball coach in 6-minute video
TL;DR
Arizona State has introduced its new men's basketball coach, Randy Bennett, through a six-minute video interview due to a health issue that delayed his formal introduction. The absence of a press conference has sparked questions among fans.
Arizona State introduces new basketball coach in 6-minute video
Arizona State introduced its new men's basketball coach, Randy Bennett, sort of.
The coach has yet to have an introductory press conference, and it has been nearly a month since he was hired. Bennett was dealing with a health issue upon his arrival in Arizona, which delayed the introduction, which was initially scheduled for March 25.
The school posted an in-house video on social media channels in which Bennett did a six-minute interview with Braiden Bell. That is the first anyone has heard from the newly appointed coach. The lack of an introductory press conference has raised questions throughout the fan base.
Bennett, 63, did not say exactly what the health issue was, but tried to assure enthusiasts he is ready to take on the task ahead of him.
"It got off to a crazy start," Bennett said in the video. "I was so excited to be here and start this, and looking forward to the press conference, and then health-wise it got thrown off, threw us a curve ball, and thank goodness for Mayo Clinic, and so it got off to a different start.
"What I'm looking forward to is building this program into a program that has a lot of continuity and build where it is a power in the Big 12. There have been flashes, so I don't ever want to diminish some other peoples' work has been, but that's what I think we can do, and that's what I'm looking forward to. Get Sun Devil basketball back to the top."
Bennett came to ASU from Saint Mary's, where he spent 25 years, shaping that mid-major program into one of the top programs on the West Coast. He holds a record of 589-228 (.721) with a West Coast Conference mark of 304-99 (.754), with 12 NCAA Tournament appearances, highlighted by a Sweet 16 showing in 2009-10. He is a seven-time West Coast Conference coach of the year. His teams have won seven regular-season titles and four conference tournaments.
In the interview, Bennett said he was perfectly happy in Moraga, California.
St. Mary's Gaels head coach Randy Bennett cuts down the net after defeating the Gonzaga Bulldogs at University Credit Union Pavilion in Moraga, California, on Feb. 28, 2026.
Saint Mary's head coach Randy Bennett walks in front of the bench in the first half during a first-round men's basketball game of the NCAA Tournament between St. Mary's and Texas A&M, at Paycom in Oklahoma City on March 19, 2026.
St. Mary's Gaels head coach Randy Bennett looks on in the first half against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the NCAA Tournament Second Round at Rocket Arena in Cleveland on March 23, 2025.
St. Mary's Gaels head coach Randy Bennett during the first half in the first round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament against the Grand Canyon Antelopes at Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena on March 22, 2024.
St. Mary's Gaels coach Randy Bennett at a news conference at Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena on March 21, 2024.
St. Mary's Gaels head coach Randy Bennett reacts during the second half against the Utah Utes at University Credit Union Pavilion in Moraga, California, on Nov. 27, 2023.
St. Mary's Gaels head coach Randy Bennett speaks to the press during first round practice at MVP Arena in Albany, New York, on March 16, 2023.
St. Mary's Gaels head coach Randy Bennett watches game action against the Loyola Marymount Lions during the second half at Gersten Pavilion in Los Angeles on Feb. 9, 2023.
St. Mary's Gaels head coach Randy Bennett laughs at a reporter's question about training with bricks at Moda Center in Portland on March 16, 2022.
St. Mary's Gaels head coach Randy Bennett celebrates his 500th win with his team after the game against the San Francisco Dons at University Credit Union Pavilion in Moraga, California, on Feb. 2, 2023.
St. Mary's Gaels head coach Randy Bennett reacts in the game against the Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks in the second half at McKeon Pavilion in Moraga, California, on Dec. 1, 2019.
Mar 20, 2019; Hartford, CT, USA; St. Mary's Gaels head coach Randy Bennett speaks with the media during practice before the first round of the 2019 NCAA Tournament at XL Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 14, 2017; Spokane, WA, USA; St. Mary's Gaels head coach Randy Bennett reacts after talking with an official during a game against the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the first half at McCarthey Athletic Center. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 19, 2016; Dayton, OH, USA; St. Mary's Gaels head coach Randy Bennett looks on from the bench in the second half at the University of Dayton Arena. St. Mary's Gaels won 61-57. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 13, 2014; Omaha, NE, USA; St. Marys Gaels head coach Randy Bennett looks at game action against the Creighton Bluejays at CenturyLink Center Omaha. St. Marys defeated Creighton 71-67 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
January 26, 2012, Los Angeles CA, USA; St. Marys Gaels head coach Randy Bennett watches game action against the Loyola Marymount Lions during the second half at Gersten Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 16, 2008; Los Angeles, CA, USA; St. Mary's Gaels coach Randy Bennett watches from the bench during the game against the Loyola Marymount Lions at Gersten Pavillion. St. Mary's defeated Loyola Marymount, 80-49. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports
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Meet the next Arizona State men's basketball coach
St. Mary's Gaels head coach Randy Bennett cuts down the net after defeating the Gonzaga Bulldogs at University Credit Union Pavilion in Moraga, California, on Feb. 28, 2026.
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Meet the next Arizona State men's basketball coach
St. Mary's Gaels head coach Randy Bennett cuts down the net after defeating the Gonzaga Bulldogs at University Credit Union Pavilion in Moraga, California, on Feb. 28, 2026.
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Meet the next Arizona State men's basketball coach
Saint Mary's head coach Randy Bennett walks in front of the bench in the first half during a first-round men's basketball game of the NCAA Tournament between St. Mary's and Texas A&M, at Paycom in Oklahoma City on March 19, 2026.
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Meet the next Arizona State men's basketball coach
St. Mary's Gaels head coach Randy Bennett looks on in the first half against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the NCAA Tournament Second Round at Rocket Arena in Cleveland on March 23, 2025.
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Meet the next Arizona State men's basketball coach
St. Mary's Gaels head coach Randy Bennett during the first half in the first round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament against the Grand Canyon Antelopes at Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena on March 22, 2024.
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Meet the next Arizona State men's basketball coach
St. Mary's Gaels coach Randy Bennett at a news conference at Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena on March 21, 2024.
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Meet the next Arizona State men's basketball coach
St. Mary's Gaels head coach Randy Bennett reacts during the second half against the Utah Utes at University Credit Union Pavilion in Moraga, California, on Nov. 27, 2023.
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Meet the next Arizona State men's basketball coach
St. Mary's Gaels head coach Randy Bennett speaks to the press during first round practice at MVP Arena in Albany, New York, on March 16, 2023.
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Meet the next Arizona State men's basketball coach
St. Mary's Gaels head coach Randy Bennett watches game action against the Loyola Marymount Lions during the second half at Gersten Pavilion in Los Angeles on Feb. 9, 2023.
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Meet the next Arizona State men's basketball coach
St. Mary's Gaels head coach Randy Bennett laughs at a reporter's question about training with bricks at Moda Center in Portland on March 16, 2022.
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Meet the next Arizona State men's basketball coach
St. Mary's Gaels head coach Randy Bennett celebrates his 500th win with his team after the game against the San Francisco Dons at University Credit Union Pavilion in Moraga, California, on Feb. 2, 2023.
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Meet the next Arizona State men's basketball coach
St. Mary's Gaels head coach Randy Bennett reacts in the game against the Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks in the second half at McKeon Pavilion in Moraga, California, on Dec. 1, 2019.
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Meet the next Arizona State men's basketball coach
Mar 20, 2019; Hartford, CT, USA; St. Mary's Gaels head coach Randy Bennett speaks with the media during practice before the first round of the 2019 NCAA Tournament at XL Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
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Meet the next Arizona State men's basketball coach
Jan 14, 2017; Spokane, WA, USA; St. Mary's Gaels head coach Randy Bennett reacts after talking with an official during a game against the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the first half at McCarthey Athletic Center. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports
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Meet the next Arizona State men's basketball coach
Nov 19, 2016; Dayton, OH, USA; St. Mary's Gaels head coach Randy Bennett looks on from the bench in the second half at the University of Dayton Arena. St. Mary's Gaels won 61-57. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
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Meet the next Arizona State men's basketball coach
Dec 13, 2014; Omaha, NE, USA; St. Marys Gaels head coach Randy Bennett looks at game action against the Creighton Bluejays at CenturyLink Center Omaha. St. Marys defeated Creighton 71-67 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
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Meet the next Arizona State men's basketball coach
January 26, 2012, Los Angeles CA, USA; St. Marys Gaels head coach Randy Bennett watches game action against the Loyola Marymount Lions during the second half at Gersten Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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Meet the next Arizona State men's basketball coach
Feb 16, 2008; Los Angeles, CA, USA; St. Mary's Gaels coach Randy Bennett watches from the bench during the game against the Loyola Marymount Lions at Gersten Pavillion. St. Mary's defeated Loyola Marymount, 80-49. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports
"This is the only place I would have left for," said Bennett, a native of Mesa. "And it's been that way. It was not a tough decision for me. It's tough to leave Saint Mary's, to have so much invested there, so many friends and family."
He went on by saying that this is home.
"I want to say home, but it's not only that," Bennett said. "When I was coming through high school, this was a power. It's my vision of what Arizona State basketball is. Arizona State was the team back then: Fat Lever, Byron Scott, Johnny Nash, Sam Williams, Alton Lister. Those are all five NBA guys. That's what I grew up on."
Bennett's health issue came at a bad time, coinciding with the opening of the transfer portal. ASU lost most of its key players to the portal. Bennett had assembled a coaching staff, all of whom he had worked with previously. They were working while the coach was laid up.
The new coaching staff has added three players through the portal and has an incoming high school player who was previously committed to Saint Mary's.
Bennett is optimistic.
"We're going to fire a shot, great basketball job. We're expecting to hit it running in year one," he said. "We're starting to build a team. I think you can expect a competitive team, a team that is playing in the NCAA Tournament, a team that's trying to get where they're playing for conference championships. It won't be easy, but it's definitely doable."
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: New ASU basketball coach Randy Bennett talks about taking new job
Q&A
Why was Randy Bennett's introduction as Arizona State's basketball coach delayed?
Randy Bennett's introduction was delayed due to a health issue he faced upon arriving in Arizona.
What format was used to introduce Randy Bennett as the new basketball coach?
Arizona State introduced Randy Bennett through a six-minute video interview posted on social media.
When was Randy Bennett originally scheduled to be introduced as the basketball coach?
Randy Bennett was initially scheduled for an introductory press conference on March 25.
What has been the reaction from fans regarding the lack of a press conference for Randy Bennett?
The absence of a formal press conference has raised questions and concerns among the fan base.
