The  Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) just recently announced that Tony Bennett, the University of Virginia Head Men’s Basketball Coach will be honored with the 2020 John Lotz “Barnabas’ Award for his commitment to Christ, Integrity, and encouragement to others.

“During this uniquely challenging basketball season, this outstanding leader has guided his players in matters much more eternal than the game of basketball,” said the CEO and FCA president Shane Williamson. “Tony has led himself, his family and his teams through the most difficult of defeats and the pinnacle of a national championship with amazing grace and consistency that can only come from the Holy Spirit leading his life.”

The three-time National Coach of the Year was due to be honored at the National Association of Basketball Coaches Convention, but due to the coronavirus pandemic, the local FCA will honor him at a later time.

His nominator shared that the dedicated coach “puts God first and maintains a Christ-like culture.

Bennett moved to Charlottesville after 3 seasons as the head coach at Washing State. Since moving, Bennett has spent 11 years as a Dean and Men’s Head Basketball Coach at the University of Virginia. Under his direction the University’s Men’s basketball team has had an impressive set of stats that also includes earning the No. 2 seed for the ACC Tournament, leading the nation in scoring defense six times, and an NCAA National Championship in 2019. This was the first NCAA National title for the Cavaliers, and came after posting a school record of 35 wins.  Under Bennett’s direction UVA has won 29 or more games in five of the past six seasons.

The former NBA player is outspoken in his faith and has said that it is Christ who he leans on to guide him in his life. “I have great things in my life- my love for my wife, my love for my family, my love, for coaching, my love for basketball,” he said in a previous interview. “Those are wonderful things, but when you line them up in comparison to Christ, and the relationship you have with Him, with what He’s done for you and with what He’s given to you, they don’t compare. That is the greatest truth I know.”

Bennett is widely known for leading his team by five pillars: humility, passion, unity, servanthood, and thankfulness. He believes they are important for the success of the basketball program and encourages his players to exemplify those pillars.