Ritchie McKay, the top assistant on the Virginia mens basketball staff, will return to Liberty as its head coach, Liberty announced on Wednesday afternoon.

McKay was the head coach of the Flames from 2007 to 2009 before resigning to join Cavaliers Coach Tony Bennetts staff.

At his introductory news conference, McKay said he loves Bennett to death, and his experience in Charlottesville made him a better coach and man. Bennetts wife was in attendance at the news conference.

I learned a ton from him, McKay said of Bennett. Not only the way he coaches his team, but the way he lives his life.

McKays departure is the first staff turnover for Bennett in his six-year tenure at Virginia. McKay, 49, had his best season at Liberty in 2008-09, when the Flames finished 23-12, tying a school record for wins in a Division I season, with star freshman Seth Curry. Shortly after Curry transferred to Duke and McKay left Liberty to become the associate head coach under Bennett. McKay, whose daughter is a student at Liberty, was crucial in the recruitment of forward Anthony Gill and point guard London Perrantes to Charlottesville.

Ive been a fan of Liberty since I left, McKay said.

Brad Soucie, Virginias director of player development, is expected to follow McKay back to Liberty. Stevens coached with McKay there and followed him to Virginia six years ago. He spent his first five seasons with the Cavaliers as the director of mens basketball operations.

After McKay resigned from Liberty in 2009, the schoolhired former McKay assistant Dale Layer, who was on Buzz Williamss staff at Marquette. Layer was fired in March after compiling an 82-113 record in his six seasons with the Flames, including an NCAA tournament appearance in 2013.

Liberty Athletics Director Jeff Barber said he talked with nine candidates over the three-week process. He touted how McKay had proven himself over the course of his career and at Liberty. Barber said McKay had been approached by other schools for head-coaching vacancies, but McKay told Barber he wouldnt talk to other schools until he was assured the Liberty job wasnt an option for him.

McKay said he didnt leave Liberty initially because it wasnt a good enough job for him, but because he wanted to help his friend, Bennett, at Virginia.

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Ritchie McKay leaves Virginia to return to Liberty as head basketball coach