CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Virginia has hired two-time Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year Aaron Roussell as its next women’s basketball coach, plucking the Richmond coach away from the Spiders just three days after parting ways with former coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton.

“My family and I are beyond excited to lead the UVA Women’s Basketball program into a bright and prosperous future,” Roussell said in a statement released by UVA. “We are well aware of the rich history and tradition of this program, and we look forward to putting the UVA program into the nation’s elite on a consistent basis. I would like to thank President Scott Beardsley, Carla Williams and her staff who have been amazing during this search. I am eager to get to work with them as we look to pack JPJ on our way to creating amazing memories with the UVA faithful.”

In seven years at Richmond, he led the Spiders to four 20-win seasons and three NCAA Tournament appearances. He signed a contract extension in April 2025, after leading the Spiders to the program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament victory. Terms were not disclosed.

Richmond went 26-8 this past season, losing to Nebraska in the First Four of the NCAAs, 75-56.

Overall, during his 22 seasons as a head coach, Roussell is 460-194, with stops at Richmond, Bucknell and Division III Chicago.

“Aaron is a proven winner who embodies the University’s values of integrity, leadership, academic excellence and student-athlete development,” UVA athletic director Carla Williams said in a statement. “We look forward to welcoming Aaron, his wife Molly, and their three children to Grounds for a new era of Virginia women’s basketball.”

Under Agugua-Hamilton, Virginia went 70-58 in four seasons at UVA, including a 29-42 mark in ACC games. This year, the Cavaliers had somewhat of a breakout season, finishing 22-12 and becoming the first women’s team to advance from the First Four to the Sweet 16. It was UVA’s first Sweet 16 appearance since 2020.

But a week after losing to TCU in that game, Virginia announced the Agugua-Hamilton era was over and a national search for her replacement was underway.

Roussell inherits a roster very much in flux. Star player Kymora Johnson, a Charlottesville native and former St. Anne’s-Belfield star, headlines a list of players who have already entered the NCAA transfer portal.