Aaron Roussell named new head coach of UVA women's basketball

University of Virginia hires proven winner from Richmond to lead program to national prominence

Apr. 7, 2026 at 10:36pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented women's basketball game, with sharp, overlapping planes of navy, red, and gold, conveying the dynamic energy and potential of the UVA program under new leadership.The University of Virginia's new women's basketball coach aims to lead the program back to national prominence through a fresh, innovative approach.Charlottesville Today

The University of Virginia has named Aaron Roussell as the new head coach of its women's basketball program, bringing in a proven winner with over 20 years of head coaching experience to lead the Cavaliers to national prominence. Roussell arrives in Charlottesville after a highly successful seven-year run at the University of Richmond, where he led the Spiders to three straight NCAA Tournament appearances and back-to-back Atlantic-10 regular season titles.

Why it matters

The UVA women's basketball program has struggled in recent years, failing to reach the NCAA Tournament since 2018. The hiring of Roussell, who has a track record of building winning programs, is seen as a major step in the university's efforts to restore the team to national relevance and compete for championships.

The details

Roussell, who has compiled a 460-194 career record over 22 seasons as a head coach, led Richmond to a 148-72 record and three straight NCAA Tournament appearances from 2023-2025. Under his leadership, the Spiders won the Atlantic-10 Tournament title in 2024 and secured back-to-back regular-season championships in 2024 and 2025. Prior to Richmond, Roussell found success at Bucknell and the University of Chicago, leading both programs to consistent postseason contention.

  • On Tuesday, April 7, 2026, the University of Virginia announced the hiring of Aaron Roussell as the new head coach of the women's basketball program.

The players

Aaron Roussell

The new head coach of the University of Virginia women's basketball team, bringing over 20 years of head coaching experience and a proven track record of success, including leading the University of Richmond to three straight NCAA Tournament appearances and back-to-back Atlantic-10 regular season titles.

Carla Williams

The Director of Athletics at the University of Virginia, who announced the hiring of Aaron Roussell as the new women's basketball head coach, expressing excitement about his ability to lead the program to national prominence.

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What they’re saying

“We are excited to name Aaron Roussell as our new head women's basketball coach. Aaron is a proven winner who embodies the University's values of integrity, leadership, academic excellence and student-athlete development.”

— Carla Williams, Director of Athletics, University of Virginia

“My family and I are beyond excited to lead the UVA women's basketball program into a bright and prosperous future. We are well aware of the rich history and tradition of this program, and we look forward to putting UVA into the nation's elite on a consistent basis.”

— Aaron Roussell, New Head Coach, University of Virginia Women's Basketball

What’s next

Roussell will now begin the process of assembling his coaching staff and recruiting players to help turn around the UVA women's basketball program. The team will look to make a return to the NCAA Tournament in the coming seasons under his leadership.

The takeaway

The hiring of Aaron Roussell as the new head coach of the UVA women's basketball team represents a significant investment by the university in restoring the program to national prominence. Roussell's proven track record of success at the mid-major level suggests he has the experience and expertise to rebuild the Cavaliers into a consistent contender in the ACC and nationally.