Virginia, Tony Bennett hires Kyle Guy as assistant coach

Virginia has hired former player Kyle Guy as an assistant coach, the program announced on Wednesday afternoon. Guy was a key contributor on the 2018-2019 team that won the national championship. After a short professional career, he now gets into the coaching world with his alma mater.

“C’ville I am back!” Guy said in a statement. “I want to sincerely thank Coach (Tony) Bennett and Carla Williams for trusting me with the opportunity to come back and begin this next chapter of my life. This was not an easy decision for me, but knowing how much love I have for this culture and community made it very clear where I should be with my family. I’m beyond excited to help this team and the University in any way needed. I’m also excited for my kids to see the work never stops! Fail harder!”

Guy is mostly known for his performance during the 2019 Final Four where he was named the Most Outstanding Player of the weekend. He famously drew a foul in the corner against Auburn as the buzzer sounded, earning three free throws down two points. Hitting all three sent Virginia to the national championship, a game they won against Texas Tech two days later.

This was off the backs of being the first-ever one-seed to lose to a 16 the year prior. A full circle moment, Guy will forever be a legend around the program.

Swiftly moving to the professional ranks after the title, Guy was drafted in the second round of the 2019 NBA Draft by the Sacramento Kings. There was some time spent in the G-League but Guy did earn minutes in the NBA and played in 34 games over the course of two seasons. His last stint stateside was with the Miami Heat, playing in 29 games during the 2021-2022 season.

A move abroad was then made by Guy, playing for Joventut Badalona, Panathinaikos, and La Laguna Tenerife.

Coaching is now the next step in Guy’s life. Bennett is thrilled to have one of his top players back around the program. His official title will be Athlete Development Mentor/Special Assistant.

“We are thrilled to welcome Kyle and his family back to Charlottesville,” Bennett said. “Kyle is not only one of the best players I’ve ever coached, but also one of the finest young men I’ve met. He will make an immediate impact on our program, working with our players and sharing the expertise and competitive fire he’s gained throughout his collegiate and professional career.”