Saint Mary's Coach Randy Bennett Rumored for Arizona State Job

Legendary mid-major coach could leave after 25 seasons with Gaels for new opportunity in the Big 12

Mar. 21, 2026 at 5:26pm

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Saint Mary's head basketball coach Randy Bennett is reportedly in "serious discussions" about taking the vacant head coaching job at Arizona State University. Bennett, who has led the Gaels for 25 seasons and established a reputation as one of the top mid-major coaches in the country, could be enticed by the move to a major conference program.

Why it matters

The potential departure of Bennett would be a major loss for the Saint Mary's program, which has thrived under his leadership and become a consistent NCAA Tournament contender. However, the move to Arizona State could provide Bennett with new challenges and resources to potentially build the Sun Devils into a Pac-12 power.

The details

Bennett's Saint Mary's teams have made the NCAA Tournament 12 times during his tenure, including each of the past four seasons. He has been named the West Coast Conference Coach of the Year seven times. This season, the Gaels finished 27-6 and won the WCC regular season title before being eliminated in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Arizona State is looking to replace Bobby Hurley, who was fired after 11 seasons and just three NCAA Tournament appearances.

  • On March 19, 2026, Saint Mary's lost to Texas A&M in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, ending their season.
  • On March 21, 2026, reports surfaced that Bennett was in "serious discussions" about taking the Arizona State head coaching job.

The players

Randy Bennett

The head coach of the Saint Mary's Gaels for the past 25 seasons, establishing the program as a consistent mid-major power and NCAA Tournament contender.

Arizona State University

A Pac-12 Conference school located in Tempe, Arizona that is seeking a new head men's basketball coach after firing Bobby Hurley.

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What they’re saying

“Randy Bennett was in serious discussions about taking the Arizona State head coaching job.”

— Chris Karpman, Arizona State reporter

What’s next

If Bennett accepts the Arizona State job, it would mark the end of his 25-year tenure at Saint Mary's and the start of a new chapter for the Sun Devils' basketball program.

The takeaway

The potential departure of Randy Bennett, one of the most successful mid-major coaches in the country, would be a significant loss for Saint Mary's. However, the move to a major conference program like Arizona State could provide Bennett with new challenges and resources to build a top-tier Pac-12 contender.