Randy Bennett Leaves Saint Mary's to Become Arizona State's Coach

The longtime Saint Mary's coach is returning home to take over the Sun Devils program.

Mar. 24, 2026 at 5:03am

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After 25 years as the head coach of the Saint Mary's Gaels, Randy Bennett is leaving the program to become the new men's basketball coach at Arizona State University. Bennett, who grew up in Mesa, Arizona and graduated from Westwood High School, is returning home to take over the Sun Devils program after the firing of Bobby Hurley.

Why it matters

Bennett's departure is a major loss for the Saint Mary's program, which he built into a West Coast Conference powerhouse over the past two decades. His decision to leave for Arizona State comes as the Gaels are losing their longtime conference rival Gonzaga to the Pac-12, weakening the WCC. Bennett's homecoming to Arizona State is seen as a coup for the Sun Devils as they look to rebuild their program and return to the NCAA Tournament.

The details

During his 25-year tenure at Saint Mary's, Bennett led the Gaels to 12 NCAA Tournament appearances and 7 NIT berths, compiling a 589-195 record and a .750 winning percentage that ranks 4th nationally over that span. He was named the WCC Coach of the Year 7 times. This past season, Saint Mary's went 27-6 and shared the WCC regular season title with Gonzaga. At Arizona State, Bennett takes over a program that has been up-and-down under former coach Bobby Hurley, making 3 NCAA Tournament appearances but failing to earn a bid this past season.

  • Randy Bennett spent 25 years as the head coach of the Saint Mary's Gaels.
  • Saint Mary's went 27-6 this past season and shared the WCC regular season title with Gonzaga.
  • Arizona State fired former head coach Bobby Hurley at the end of the 2022-23 season.

The players

Randy Bennett

The longtime head coach of the Saint Mary's Gaels, who is leaving the program to become the new head coach at Arizona State University. Bennett is a native of Mesa, Arizona and is returning home to take over the Sun Devils program.

Bobby Hurley

The former head coach of the Arizona State Sun Devils, who was fired at the end of the 2022-23 season after 11 years with the program.

Mickey McConnell

The associate coach at Saint Mary's, who will replace Randy Bennett as the new head coach of the Gaels program.

Mike Matoso

The athletic director at Saint Mary's, who praised Randy Bennett's legacy and impact on building the Gaels into a national contender.

Graham Rossini

The athletic director at Arizona State, who praised Randy Bennett's accomplishments and recruiting relationships as key reasons for hiring him as the new Sun Devils head coach.

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What they’re saying

“This was a difficult decision after calling Saint Mary's home for so long and building this program into a national contender each year. I will be forever grateful for the opportunity to lead Saint Mary's and for all the special people in this community I've been able to work with over the years. This was truly my home away from home for so long and I will miss this place.”

— Randy Bennett, Head Coach

“Coach Bennett is one of the most accomplished and respected coaches in college basketball. We were drawn to his sustained success over multiple decades, his strong recruiting relationships across the country, particularly on the West Coast, and his proven ability to identify and develop international talent. Just as important, he brings a genuine enthusiasm for leading the Sun Devil men's basketball program.”

— Graham Rossini, Athletic Director

“We can't thank Randy enough for everything he has done for this program and the college. He will be missed as a leader and coach, and has left us with a lasting legacy of excellence. Randy's influence as the architect of building Saint Mary's Basketball onto the national stage has provided an incredible foundation for on-going success.”

— Mike Matoso, Athletic Director

What’s next

Arizona State will formally introduce Randy Bennett as their new head coach in the coming days.

The takeaway

Randy Bennett's departure from Saint Mary's is a significant loss for the program, but it represents a homecoming for the accomplished coach as he takes over the Arizona State Sun Devils. His proven track record of building Saint Mary's into a national contender makes him an intriguing hire for an Arizona State program looking to return to the NCAA Tournament consistently.