Mar 19, 2026; San Diego, CA, USA; Cal Baptist head coach Rick Croy speaks at a press conference ahead of the first round of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Viejas Arena. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images Denis Poroy-Imagn Images

Grading Recent Staff Moves From ASU's Randy Bennett

Originally posted on Arizona State Sun Devils on SI
By Kevin Hicks | Last updated Apr 6, 2026 11:30 AM ET

TEMPE -- The last three weeks of operations for Arizona State men's basketball have been frantic, as the program made a transition to a new head coach, has worked to assemble a new coaching staff, and is now set to face a crucial period of time in the transfer portal, which is set to officially open on Tuesday.

Head coach Randy Bennett has been recovering from a health scare, but the 63-year old continues to excel as the steward of the program - this is reflected in the first hires that have been made to round out the aforementioned coaching staff. Follow the grades given on the moves by Arizona State on SI below.

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Rick Croy

The hiring of Croy can be described as nothing more than a complete heist.

Croy is a seasoned veteran who has a marked track record of program building, player development, and maximizing rosters, and now has an NCAA Tournament berth under his belt as a head coach.

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Beyond his success as a coach, Croy will also be reunited with his son, JRob, who is a four-star recruit in the class of 2026. This is one of the best hires that Bennett possibly could have made during this process.

Grade: A+

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Joe Rahon

Not as much is known about Rahon as an all-around coach, as the former player and assistant at Saint Mary's hasn't yet handled an expanded role in his coaching career.

However, Rahon accompanied Bennett on his flight to Arizona and is clearly highly trusted by the veteran head coach - this should ultimately reflect well on the decision to hire the prodigy for a significant role in Tempe.

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Grade: A-

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David Patrick

It was reported on Friday by Chris Karpman of SunDevilSource that Patrick would indeed join Bennett's staff after around a week of speculation.

The former assistant to Bennett from 2006-10 checks many of the boxes for an elite assistant. Patrick - who grew up in Australia - played an instrumental role in introducing a wider international audience to Moraga, including bringing Patty Mills to the program. Patrick also has experience under several other vaulted head coaches, including Eric Musselman, and now owns head coaching experience of his own.

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Patrick will very likely fit well into Bennett's vision and has a strong opportunity to connect with potential returnees from the international ranks, including star center Massamba Diop.

Grade: A+

This article first appeared on Arizona State Sun Devils on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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