By Jerry Ratcliffe
Aaron Roussell, who won 70 percent of his games during the past seven seasons at Richmond, is Virginia’s new head basketball coach. Roussell, who won 70 percent of his games during the past seven seasons at Richmond, is Virginia’s new head basketball coach.
Roussell replaces Amaka Agugua-Hamilton, who was fired over the weekend after an internal investigation revealed abuse to players and support staff during her four-year reign. Agugua-Hamilton had a 70-58 overall record, including a 29-42 mark in ACC play.
“We are excited to name Aaron Roussell (pronounced roo-SELL), as our new head women’s basketball coach,” Virginia director of athletics Carla Williams said late Tuesday afternoon. “Aaron is a proven winner who embodies the University’s values of integrity, leadership, academic excellence and student-athlete development. We look forward to welcoming Aaron, his wife Molly, and their three children to Grounds for a new era of Virginia women’s basketball.”
Roussell inherits a program that finished the season with an impressive postseason run, becoming the first UVA women’s team to reach the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet Sixteen in 25 years. His first priority will be keeping the program intact after six players — including star point guard Kymora Johnson — from transferring. Johnson and several teammates either entered the transfer portal or announced those intentions, although Johnson and at least one other said they could possibly return to the program.
If you want even more award-winning coverage on the UVA athletics department, including its nationally-ranked football and basketball programs, be sure to subscribe to “Cavalier Exclusive” to follow all of Virginia Sports Hall Of Famer Jerry “Hootie” Ratcliffe’s analysis and content. It’s the best in the business for Wahoo Fans!
“My family and I are beyond excited to lead the UVA women’s program into a bright and prosperous future,” Roussell said. “We are well aware of the rich history and tradition of this program, and we look forward to putting the UVA program into the nation’s elite on a consistent basis. I would like to thank President Scott Beardsley, Carla Williams and her staff who have been amazing during this search. I am eager to get to work with them as we look to pack JPJ on our way to creating amazing memories with the UVA faithful.”
Roussell led the Spiders to a 148-72 record and three straight NCAA Tournament appearances over the past seven seasons. Even more impressive is his record over the past four years: 104-32.
Roussell directed Richmond to the 2024 Atlantic-10 Tournament title and won back-to-back regular season A-10 championships the past two seasons.
This past season, Rousell was named the Kathy Delaney-Smith Mid-Major Coach of the Year, one of several coaching honors he has earned during his 22-year career. During that span, which includes head-coaching stints at Chicago (2004-2012), Bucknell (2012-2019) and Richmond, Roussell has compiled a record of 460-194. He was twice named the Atlantic-10 Coach of the Year.
Roussell’s coaching philosophy is built around a positionless style of play with an emphasis on perimeter shooting.
If you want even more award-winning coverage on the UVA athletics department, including its nationally-ranked football and basketball programs, be sure to subscribe to “Cavalier Exclusive” to follow all of Virginia Sports Hall Of Famer Jerry “Hootie” Ratcliffe’s analysis and content. It’s the best in the business for Wahoo Fans!
