Arizona State head basketball coach Randy Bennett’s early stages in his new role weren’t what he drew up.
As he told Arizona Sports’ Burns & Gambo on Wednesday, “it got off to a funny start.”
But after getting checked out by the Mayo Clinic and postponing his introductory press conference, he’s “feeling great.” As long as that’s the case, retirement isn’t on the brain.
“I can’t answer that question. As long as I’m healthy and I’m excited,” Bennett said during his first outside media interview when asked how much longer he wanted to coach.
“The Mayo Clinic people have done a fantastic job. I’m not sure where I’d be without them,” he added.
Now, it’s about getting fully back to the job of his dreams and preparing for the challenge the Big 12 presents, two major factors in Bennett’s decision to leave Saint Mary’s.
“I was always happy there. When (outside interest) would come up, I’d go back to ‘Don’t run from happiness,’” he said. “There was never a situation where I thought we could win more than at Saint Mary’s and never a place that I thought I would be happier. … The dream job for me was Arizona State. I thought I would get back here and it just never happened. And it came about this year.
“I think ASU is a good basketball job and I’ve always thought that. But now you’re in the Big 12, that’s like the number one or two basketball conference in the country. Bottom line, I wanted to be part of that challenge and my assistant coach staff wanted the same thing. Now we got to get players who want that challenge, too. You’re playing in the real fight. Not that it wasn’t where I was at, but the landscape of college basketball has really changed. And I want to be in the top tier.”
While his arrival had its medical hang-up, Bennett and his coaching staff have gotten to work filling out the roster.
They did so in a big way through the transfer portal, with former Saint Mary’s forward Paulius Murauskas following Bennett over to ASU. He was the ninth-ranked player in the portal this offseason. Dillan Shaw also made the move from Saint Mary’s to ASU.
Then came Wednesday, when ASU landed the commitment of Australian power forward Ajak Nyuon. He joins four-star guard JRob Croy, who flipped his commitment from Saint Mary’s, as part of the 2026 class.
“We have 12 guys committed right now and I feel really good about them,” Bennett said. “I feel like they’re here for the same reason our coaching staff is. We want the challenge, we want to play against the best and I think that’s where they’re at. There’s money involved in these things now, but I feel like these guys are coming in for the right reason.
“They’re coming to be part of something bigger than themselves and try and win a championship in the Big 12, which will be very challenging to do.”
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