Dan Bonner selected for Virginia Sports Hall of Fame – 29 News

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) – Dan Bonner is likely best known for his decades of work broadcasting college basketball games on TV. He also played and coached at UVA.
Bonner is one of nine to be inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in April. The news was released in December.
“Obviously I was excited, I was very surprised,” says Bonner about his selection. “I never did this for that kind of reason. I did it because I enjoyed it.”
The Pittsburgh native came to the Commonwealth to play basketball at UVA in the early 1970’s
“Playing career, I mostly watched most of the time. The only time I ever played was my senior year when coach Holland took over,” says Bonner. “It was a great experience. Coach Holland was one of the biggest influences of my life.”
After graduation, Bonner coached the UVA women’s basketball team for two seasons with Debbie Ryan.
“Mr. Corrigan was the athletic director here then and Debbie is his niece, but he didn’t feel like she was ready to be the head coach, so he made me the head coach,” says Bonner. ” Debbie and I, neither one of us knew anything but we really worked together and we became great friends.
Bonner resumed his coaching career years later, coaching the girls basketball team at R.E. Lee High School in Staunton for four seasons, leading the team to the state finals in 2002.
“I really enjoyed being involved with the kids. It was a different experience being involved with high school girls but it was a wonderful experience”.
Bonner only gave up coaching because it conflicted with his flourishing broadcasting career. He works a lot of ACC games, but he’s also been a part of every NCAA men’s basketball tournament for 40 years.
“It has been a big thrill for me,” says Bonner. “I’ve met wonderful people, we stay in touch. We talk about our kids and our grandkids. That’s what I like best, I like the basketball but I like the personal relationships that you build doing something like this.”
Bonner and his wife have lived in Augusta County for years.
Bonner is one of nine in this year’s 2025 class that will be inducted into the Virginia Sports HOF in April.
Do you have a story idea? Send us your news tip here.
Copyright 2025 WVIR. All rights reserved.

source