In a press conference yesterday afternoon, Virginia athletic director Craig Littlepage officially announced former DePaul University coach Dave Leitao as the next men's basketball coach. Leitao (pronounced LAY-toe) left DePaul, where he compiled a 58-34 record in three seasons, and immediately has taken over command of the Cavaliers.
"We have not just successfully concluded the search, in my opinion," Littlepage said following significant applause for Leitao's entrance. "We have brought to the University of Virginia a superb man, a superb basketball coach and a person that is going to have a dramatic impact on the University and its surrounding communities."
Following an undisclosed buyout of the remainder of his contract at DePaul, Leitao agreed to a five-year deal with a base salary of $215,000. Including other outside revenue, his contract sets forth a total annual income of $925,000.
"For the 21 years that I have been in college coaching and the five years that I spent in college, I've always looked at the University of Virginia with great admiration," Leitao said in his opening statement. "To be linked to this great university at this time in my life and in my family's life is overwhelming."
Over the last three seasons, each of Leitao's teams at DePaul have competed in a postseason tournament, highlighted by a 22-10 mark in 2003-2004 that took the Blue Demons to the second round of the NCAA Tournament before a loss to the eventual national champion, the University of Connecticut. Last year, DePaul finished 20-11, on the bubble of the NCAA Tournament, and settled for an appearance in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT).
Before his stint as coach of DePaul, Leitao was the associate head coach at the University of Connecticut under legendary head coach Jim Calhoun for six seasons. During that period, the Huskies won a national championship in 1999, and advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament twice.
Leitao started his coaching career under Calhoun at Northeastern University in 1984, after a four-year playing career at the same institution. That period was the beginning of a deep personal relationship between the two men. Calhoun would go on to bring Leitao to Connecticut as an assistant coach in 1986 and again in 1996 as bookends of Leitao's two seasons as head coach of Northeastern from 1994-1996.
Yesterday's press conference featured Littlepage and Leitao in the media limelight with Univeristy President John T. Casteen, III also available for questions. Casteen and Leitao spoke to a personal relationship spanning back to Connecticut, where Casteen had served as president and been involved in the hiring of Calhoun in 1986.
Returning Cavalier players also attended the conference in the recruiting room of Bryant Hall, radiating obvious enthusiasm as Leitao grandly spoke of the program's immediate potential.
"My vision is to take this basketball program and put it on a championship level both on and off the court," Leitao said. "I can tell you that the next time we play a basketball team that these young men will play and fight together like never before."
Leitao takes the lead as Virginia's 10th coach in its 100-year history, and the institution's first African-American head coach for any sport.
Read More
Two senior U.Va. Health leaders quietly take new jobs without formal announcement
By Ford McCracken | YesterdayKibbe’s departure marks the end of an ongoing battle between U.Va. Health employees and their senior leadership.
Letter from 12 deans to Board of Visitors goes unanswered for almost two weeks
By Naima Sawaya | YesterdayAt the time of publication, the academic deans had received no response from the Board regarding their offer to meet with the Board “as soon as possible.”
Sen. Tim Kaine speaks to U.Va. students, discusses Ryan resignation and more
By Grace Traxler | 2 days agoIn an informal Q&A session, audience members asked about threats to federal research, the future of diversity, equity and inclusion at the University, potential shifts in the Democratic Party and more.
