Randy Bennett: Landing ASU job ‘has been the dream’

New Arizona State men’s basketball head coach Randy Bennett’s tenure has not gotten off to the smoothest start.

Since arriving in Tempe, Bennett has dealt with a health situation that has kept him away from his introductory press conference.

But Bennett’s thoughts on the job and where he can take the program haven’t waned due to the early curveball.

“It got off to a crazy start,” Bennett told Sun Devil Extra in his first appearance as Sun Devils head coach. “What I’m looking forward to is just building this program into a program that has a lot of continuity and build it where it’s a power in the Big 12 and the whole deal.”

“This is the only place I would have left for, and it’s been that way. It was not a tough decision for me,” the head coach added. “It was tough to leave Saint Mary’s and have so much invested there and so many friends and family, but this has been the dream job. I think it’s a great job and I always have.”

The Mesa native’s health situation — which he said didn’t change the momentum of the program in a March statement — didn’t stop the head coach from adding to his coaching staff with associate head coaches Rick Croy, Joe Rahon and David Patrick.

In Bennett’s eyes, it’s all about establishing a good coaching staff that players want to play for.

And although there have been departures from last year’s squad, ASU has seen additions through the transfer portal, with forward Emmanuel Innocenti, center Nate Garcia and wing Marcus Vaughns committing to the program since Bennett came aboard.

The Sun Devils also landed the commitment of JRob Croy, who is the son of Rick Croy and flipped from Saint Mary’s to ASU.

At the very least, it’s a start for what Bennett envisions ASU basketball becoming.

“When I was coming through (Westwood High School) this place was a power. That’s my vision for what Arizona State basketball is,” Bennett said. “Fat Lever, Byron Scott, Johnny Nash, Slammin’ Sam Williams, Alton Lister. Those are all five NBA guys. That’s what I grew up on.”

“We’re going to fire a good shot. I think this is a great basketball job. We’re expected to hit it running Year 1,” he added.

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