Recently named ACC Coach of the Year, Dave Leitao made his second year coaching the Cavaliers a notable one for basketball fans. The last time Al Groh received the same honor for his football coaching was in 2002. While Leitao's track record improves, Groh's appears to be getting worse, so Life has only one question on its mind: Who is the better coach -- Groh or Leitao?
The most obvious answer should come from how much the University values the coaches, or how much they are paid. Groh's base salary is $240,000 with $1.46 million annual compensation for fundraising duties, endorsements and media appearances. Leitao's base is $215,000 with $925,000 in other compensation per year.
Besides their pay, popularity among students and fans might reveal the best coach. Leitao is racking up the popularity points with four positive Facebook groups in his honor compared to Groh's one. Groh has more groups, but when the anti-Groh Facebook groups hit the double digits and no negative groups seem to exist for Leitao, one can't help but get the point.
Fourth-year College student Sam Leven said Groh might receive too much grief.
"The [anti-Groh] Facebook groups aren't warranted, but he still has a lot of work to do to prove he's worth the amount of money he's paid," he said.
Hoo Crew president David Weiss said Leitao hasn't been around long enough for him to compare their long-term performances as coaches, but he said Leitao has done better this year.
"The records clearly speak for themselves," Weiss said.
While Groh's last season this fall was a 5-7 disappointing "rebuilding year," his first five years at the University had only one other losing season, his first.
Leitao's first season last year was also a losing season, with a 7-9 conference run. This season, with a 11-5 run, he led the Cavaliers to the second round in the NCAA -- the first time the Cavaliers have made it there in years.
Third-year College student Caitlin O'Grady said she thinks Leitao has performed well, but said that does not invalidate Groh.
"I'm impressed with what Leitao's done in so short a time, but obviously there's a reason that Groh's still there," she said.
Leven said while he did not think Groh is doing a "bad job," he has made mistakes.
Groh "hasn't shown he can win when it counts or when the players are injured," Leven said.
He added that Leitao has done some noteworthy coaching this season.
"He took some players who weren't going anywhere to their potential and took them to the NCAA," Leven said.
While O'Grady said she was not sure that the coaches could be compared due to the many differences in their sports, she stressed one similarity.
"I hope they both keep improving," she said.
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