CMY and Tony Bennett are similar in that they both run systems that require
players to develop and learn over multiple years. The difference is Bennett knew that NIL and the portal were going to create problems for his style of coaching and got out of Dodge. CMY is trying to fight through it and it's just not working in today's world. CMY is a great guy and coach but is suited for the past and not this crazy new world of professional college players.
29 Replies
4mo
If he had a squad of the same players locked in for 4 straight years in his system, they’d be darn near unstoppable. Unfortunately, he’s not coaching high school. He’s coaching D1 college basketball in 2026, where half the team flees town every offseason and you have to start over almost from scratch trying to teach this relatively complex system to a hodgepodge new group of players you hope will have chemistry. Sorry, nice guy and a proven system, but it just doesn’t work anymore in today’s college basketball.
(In response to this post by MarionHokie82)
4mo
really surprised he decided to return and not just hang it up like Bennet did. I like CMY a lot but I just don’t see him being successful in the world of NIL and the portal.
(In response to this post by MarionHokie82)
H
HokieNL
4mo
He will honor the last year of his contract with VT. It is possible that he already knows that VT is looking elsewhere.
It's hard to know how genuine people are, but MY strikes me as genuine. With this being his dream job, since growing up in the area and going to see games at Cassell as a kid, I would tend to think that loyalty is a high priority to him. Perhaps, even, on his way out.
Similar to Beamer, I suppose.
(In response to this post by SCHokie1103)
4mo
But VT should not point to a school with an infinitely richer hoops tradition, and one that plays in the wealthiest conference, as the blueprint for success. When a "system coach" has Matt Painter's budget, Matt Painter's NCAA tournament resume, Purdue's conference membership, and Purdue's decades-long history of basketball success, then yes, maybe they could convince guys to stick around for 3-4 years.
What do you think are the odds of that happening at VT?
For most schools not in the BiG or SEC, the blueprint is now running a system that is easy to pick up and fun to play in (i.e. fast pace, lots of pressing, transition oriented). Because the way you are going to attract players is NOT by either having the deepest pockets or by telling them that they will need to learn for 1-2 years before they will see meaningful playing time, or experience meaningful success. That world is gone forever at the D1 level.
(In response to this post by WildTurkE)
4mo
Purdue, and Indiana (# 1 NIL) as well as putting his seniors in the pros, helps him use the CMY method.
If VT ever has top 1/3 NIL cash available for men's hoops, the results can be the same.
(In response to this post by millmtnhokie)
4mo
Two of the dirtiest players I've seen in a loooong time. Especially 4.
(In response to this post by millmtnhokie)
4mo
They've got excitement around the program, and have well before NIL came into play. It helps to have money to retain, but he's not going to lose a lot of players anyway.
** Edited by reestuart at 4/2/2026, 8:44:15 AM
(In response to this post by Moseley Hokie)
4mo
~$190M vs $155M, unless they get an unexpected windfall this year like VT.
** Edited by GoldCoast at 4/1/2026, 10:25:37 PM
(In response to this post by Moseley Hokie)
V
VTCALS72
4mo
of better players, coaches, everything?
Not sure why some VT fans EXPECT underfunded VT teams to automatically be "better run."
funding level establishes the baseline for everything at this time.
(In response to this post by GoldCoast)
4mo
..Admin who is in over their head and/or not able to adapt to running the AD more like a business and it is more clear every day. The latest is this NIL hoops fiasco, but they live off these excuses of "not P2", "Blacksburg" or "remember VT was not good 15 years ago", i..e, the "poor ole' VT mindset". If not for our "activist Alums" we would not even have Franklin who is pushing for required changes and hopefully it works in the most important sport (based on $$'s).
We need new leadership in the worst way to see what VT can really do, especially in MBB.
(In response to this post by VTCALS72)
V
VTCALS72
4mo
can be made. In short the AD level is not where the problem is. IMHO we have an AD who is essentially trying to run an undercapitalized business. Until we have a president who cares as much about establishing a P2 level athletic program as getting, into the AAU, it is doubtful that the improvement fans want will really happen. That begs the question, which should we pursue first. I think Sands actions are clear that he just wants to try to hold athletics as close to where they are while his fund raising focus is not on making VT athletics P2 level.
One more doom and gloom point, I do not see VT getting a new president who does elevate athletics. Not sure we can keep a BOV that is as active and motivated to bettter athletics going forward.
** Edited by VTCALS72 at 4/2/2026, 8:13:43 AM
(In response to this post by GoldCoast)
I
icelus
4mo
basically making engineer level salary at Wofford. I am sure he is in good position financially now, but would a normal engineer walk away from a $3MM/yr salary job voluntarily? Of course, most people would want to stick to that job as long as they can. Tony Bennett made much more money and had a much more succesful career than that of CMY before he retired, even so, walking away like that is still rare.
(In response to this post by MarionHokie82)
2
2hhoop3
4mo
whether CMY is the breadwinner even now. He did not take the VT job for the money nor does he need to hang on to it now for the money. The poster above that you responded to missed the mark with his theory.
(In response to this post by UpperQuad)
4mo
job for that kind of $$$
(In response to this post by icelus)
4mo
It’s a lot of cash to throw at a coach whose days, frankly, are numbered and whose motivation is questionable. Nothing against Coach Young on a personal level, but from a business perspective I would not be disappointed to see VT part ways with him and start a new path.
Unfortunately that path requires money and leadership, neither of which Hokies MBB has in abundance right now.
(In response to this post by 40ozDistrict)
4mo
…does not appear he is with major production coming from a number of 1 or 2 yr guys (Bedford, Neo, Gurdak, and Hans this year ). I feel like this was something said in his first two years to do the old “VT can’t be good” qualification, needing a “system coach” or we can’t be competitive.
It is just not the case, nor the reason we did not make the NCAA this year.
** Edited by GoldCoast at 4/1/2026, 6:03:29 PM
(In response to this post by MarionHokie82)
4mo
DIII, NAIA DI, or NAIA DII levels where NIL is held in check for the most part. At least whenever people talk about the "crazy new world," it seems they are only talking about the NCAA DI level.
(In response to this post by MarionHokie82)
4mo
(In response to this post by VTHokie2000)
4mo
lower level D1 programs and they are probably looking at D2 and D3 programs. With the number of kids that enter the portal each season, I don't imagine too many rosters are safe year over year. The ones that are probably spend more than our annual budget on retention alone.
(In response to this post by MarionHokie82)
4mo
not worth the squeeze. Plus, there have been highly successful coaches at the lower levels who would tell you they wouldn't trade it for nothing in the world.
(In response to this post by MarionHokie82)