UVA Athletics: From Glory to Rebuilding -

It feels like just yesterday we watched Bronco Mendenhall dancing on the sidelines after Mandy Alonso sealed Virginia’s win over Virginia Tech with a fumble recovery in the end zone. We saw the Cavaliers play in the ACC Championship Game and the Orange Bowl. Earlier that year, Coach Tony Bennett was cutting down the nets in Minneapolis, slapping Virginia’s sticker on the bracket as National Champions, and celebrating during “One Shining Moment” with the players holding the National Championship Trophy! Only five years ago, those were some of the happiest days in UVA fans’ lives. Oh, what a difference five years can make.

Where Are We Today?

Football just wrapped up a disappointing 5-7 season, including a dismal 1-6 finish over the final seven games. With half the roster departing due to eligibility and 13 players already entering the transfer portal (as of this writing), Virginia faces a monumental task. A recruiting class of 19 is on the way, but by my count, the Cavaliers need to add approximately 40 players through the transfer portal. While other schools might accomplish this, Virginia’s academic standards make it extremely challenging.

So far, most of UVA’s transfer portal offers have gone to players from non-Power Four schools. Is it realistic to expect a team full of new faces to finish in the top half of the ACC—or even in the middle?

Coach Tony Elliott is entering his fourth year as head coach after replacing Bronco Mendenhall. His record so far—3 wins, 3 wins, and now 5 wins—hasn’t inspired much confidence. Yet, in what seems like a tone-deaf decision, Elliott has stated he does not anticipate making any staff changes. That means another year of Des Kitchings’ anemic offense and, likely, more special teams blunders costing games. Elliott’s loyalty to his staff appears to be coming at the expense of the program’s success.

Attendance is also a problem. While the official numbers were often listed at 35,000, the actual attendance rarely exceeded 25,000. The fan base is exhausted—exhausted from bad football, losing to Virginia Tech, and endless excuses.

Athletic Director Carla Williams’ stance on Coach Elliott’s future remains uncertain, but her own situation may complicate any major decisions. With her contract expiring in mid-2025, Williams could be hesitant to make a drastic move, such as firing Elliott or mandating staff changes, especially if she doesn’t plan to remain at UVA long-term. If Williams knows her tenure is nearing its end, she might prefer to let the current situation play out and allow the next athletic director to shape the program’s future. This potential limbo leaves fans questioning whether the necessary accountability and leadership will come soon enough to stop the downward spiral.

A Make-or-Break Year

If Elliott can’t get this team to a bowl game in 2025, his tenure will likely end. The bar isn’t set high—we’re talking any bowl game, not an Orange Bowl—but even that feels like a monumental task given the roster turnover and current trajectory.

Basketball’s Decline

For years, Virginia basketball was the bright spot no matter how bad football became. But now, even basketball seems to have lost its way. Three weeks before the season, Coach Tony Bennett shocked the college basketball world by resigning, citing his inability to lead in the current NIL-dominated landscape. Known as a program builder, Bennett felt the new era of hired-gun players wasn’t for him.

With almost no time to search for a replacement, UVA turned to interim coach Ron Sanchez. Sanchez, who has described himself as Tony Bennett without the 300 wins, inherited a program already in decline.

Since cutting the nets in 2019, Virginia basketball has struggled to maintain its success. Yes, the team made the NCAA Tournament last year, but getting blown out by Colorado State in the First Four was another reminder of how far the program has fallen. While Bennett once reeled in recruiting classes filled with NBA talent—like Ty Jerome, Kyle Guy, De’Andre Hunter, and Jay Huff—the talent level has dropped off significantly in recent years.

The current roster lacks size, athleticism, and shooting. Aside from freshman Jacob Cofie, who has the potential to be a future star, there’s little reason to believe this team can compete at a high level. A Top-25 appearance seems out of reach this season, let alone returning to national prominence.

Coach Sanchez isn’t entirely to blame. The cupboard is bare, and top recruits are unlikely to commit to a coach whose long-term future is uncertain.

A New Beginning?

The struggles in both football and basketball could set the stage for a new chapter in UVA athletics. If Carla Williams departs, the university would offer a unique opportunity to her successor—a blank slate at a Power Four school with the chance to hire new head coaches for both major revenue sports.

This kind of reset could attract strong AD candidates. Fresh faces often bring renewed optimism, even if the results take time. As it stands, belief in UVA’s football and basketball programs is near an all-time low. By this time next year, we may have new leadership, new head coaches, new direction and a glimmer of hope. Hope would be a huge improvement. I think we’d all like to party like it’s 2019 again!

Or, at the very least, we’ll be saying, “Well, at least baseball season is right around the corner.”