CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Lars Tiffany, who revived Virginia’s sagging lacrosse program and led the Cavaliers to a pair of national championships, won’t be back with the program.

Tuesday, when internet rumors swirled suggesting Tiffany might leave UVA, he texted Cville Right Now, “The report of my death is greatly exaggerated,” saying he expected to return with the Cavaliers and had already begun planning for the 2027 season.

But Monday, UVA announced a “leadership change,” in a curt, three sentence release. A national search for his replacement will begin immediately. The release did not include a statement from athletic director Carla Williams.

Tiffany went 108-51 in 10 seasons, winning national titles in 2019 and 2021. This year, UVA went 10-7, won an ACC tournament championship and lost in the first round of the NCAA tournament to Georgetown.

He guided Virginia to seven NCAA tournaments and four Final Fours.

“Next year’s team is going to build on the foundation of what we did this year,” Tiffany said after the Georgetown loss. “Going 4-2 in ACC play, winning an ACC tournament, that’s a really big deal. We have to defend our turf better next year. We lost too many games here. But we took a big step. Now, we just launch from here.”

In 2022, Tiffany signed a contract extension that ran through the 2026 season.

Tiffany joins basketball coach Tony Bennett and baseball coach Brian O’Connor as recent national-winning coaches to leave UVA. Bennett retired a month before the 2024-25 season. O’Connor bolted for Mississippi State after 2025.