UVa Hires Proven Women's Basketball Coach Aaron Roussell

Roussell's track record of building successful programs at smaller schools makes him an intriguing hire for the Cavaliers.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 2:41am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the fragmented action of a women's basketball game, with sharp planes of navy, red, and gold representing the energy and intensity of the sport.Roussell's proven ability to build winning cultures could revitalize UVa's struggling women's basketball program.Chicago Today

The University of Virginia has hired Aaron Roussell as their new women's basketball head coach. Roussell comes to UVa after successful stints elevating the programs at Division III Chicago, Bucknell, and Richmond. He is known as an indisputable program builder who can take underperforming teams and turn them into consistent winners.

Why it matters

UVa's women's basketball team has struggled in recent years, so the hire of Roussell represents an opportunity to revitalize the program and return it to national prominence. Roussell's ability to build winning cultures at smaller schools suggests he could have a similar impact in Charlottesville.

The details

Over the past 15 years, Roussell has demonstrated a knack for taking over struggling programs and quickly transforming them into winners. At Division III Chicago, he led the team to its first NCAA Tournament appearance in over a decade. He then did the same at Bucknell, guiding the Bison to their first Patriot League title and NCAA Tournament bid in program history. Most recently, Roussell revived the Richmond Spiders, leading them to three straight 20-win seasons and two NCAA Tournament appearances.

  • Roussell was hired as the new UVa women's basketball head coach on April 5, 2026.
  • He spent the previous 7 seasons as the head coach at the University of Richmond.

The players

Aaron Roussell

The new head coach of the University of Virginia women's basketball team, known for his ability to quickly turn around struggling programs at the Division III and mid-major levels.

University of Virginia

A public research university in Charlottesville, Virginia that competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The UVa women's basketball team has struggled in recent years and is hoping Roussell can revive the program.

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What they’re saying

“Aaron Roussell has proven time and again that he can build successful women's basketball programs from the ground up. His track record of elevating teams at smaller schools makes him the perfect fit to do the same at UVa.”

— Carla Williams, UVa Athletic Director

What’s next

Roussell will begin assembling his coaching staff and recruiting players to Charlottesville as he looks to quickly turn around the UVa women's basketball program.

The takeaway

The hiring of Aaron Roussell represents a bold move by UVa to revitalize its women's basketball team. His proven ability to build winning cultures at smaller schools suggests he could have a similar transformative impact in Charlottesville and return the Cavaliers to national prominence.