(BCSNN) — Arizona State has turned to one of college basketball’s most respected architects to lead its next era. Sun Devil Athletics Director Graham Rossini announced that Randy Bennett, the longtime Saint Mary’s head coach who transformed the Gaels into a national mainstay, will take over the Sun Devil Men’s Basketball program.
Bennett arrives in Tempe after 25 seasons at Saint Mary’s, where he authored one of the most remarkable turnarounds in modern college basketball. He won a school‑record 589 games, earned seven WCC Coach of the Year awards, and guided the Gaels to 19 postseason appearances, including 12 NCAA Tournaments. Their streak of 18 consecutive postseason berths trails only Gonzaga, Michigan State and Kansas.
Since the 2015–16 season, Saint Mary’s has posted a .774 winning percentage, the best in California and fourth‑best nationally. The Gaels also tied for the most NCAA Tournament appearances of any Division I program in the state during that span.
“Coach Bennett is one of the most accomplished and respected coaches in college basketball,” Rossini said. “His sustained success, his recruiting ties across the West Coast, and his ability to identify and develop international talent made him the clear choice. Just as important, he brings a genuine enthusiasm for leading Sun Devil Basketball.”
Bennett’s rise began quickly after taking over in Moraga in 2001. By his fourth season, he had tied the program’s single‑season wins record. His 2008–09, 2009–10 and 2012–13 teams set a new standard with 28 victories, and in 2010 he led Saint Mary’s to the Sweet 16, delivering the program’s first NCAA Tournament wins in 51 years.
The past five seasons may have been his most impressive. Bennett adapted seamlessly to the sport’s shifting landscape, compiling a 135–36 (.790) record, earning at least a share of four straight WCC regular‑season titles, and reaching the NCAA Tournament in each of the last five years.
“It was going to take a special situation for us to leave Saint Mary’s,” Bennett said. “I am energized, driven, and focused on taking over Sun Devil Basketball, a program I grew up watching. We are in the best basketball conference in the nation, and my staff and I will be ready for the challenge.”
Bennett’s teams have long been known for discipline, development and durability. From 2008–13, Saint Mary’s won 25 or more games in six straight seasons, a feat matched only by Duke, Gonzaga and Kansas. University Credit Union Pavilion became one of the toughest home courts in the country under his watch, where the Gaels went 319–62 (.837) over 23 seasons, including 199–26 (.884) in the last 13 years.
His player development résumé is equally deep. Bennett coached 51 All‑WCC selections, including Patty Mills, Matthew Dellavedova, Jock Landale, Mickey McConnell and Omar Samhan — all of whom went on to professional success. He also produced six WCC Defensive Players of the Year and three WCC Players of the Year.
Before his quarter‑century run at Saint Mary’s, Bennett spent 16 years as an assistant at San Diego, Idaho, Pepperdine and Saint Louis. He also has deep Arizona roots: he grew up in Mesa, played for his father at Mesa Community College, and later captained UC San Diego.
Bennett will be joined in Tempe by his wife, Darlene, and their sons, Cade and Chase. He becomes the 15th head coach in program history.
