Next UVA women’s basketball coach is a ‘proven winner’ and ‘fantastic human being’

University News

Next UVA women’s basketball coach is a ‘proven winner’ and ‘fantastic human being’

The next University of Virginia head women’s basketball coach is the state’s active leader in consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances.

Aaron Roussell is a “proven winner,” UVA Director of Athletics Carla Williams said Tuesday .

Roussell comes to Charlottesville after seven seasons in charge at the University of Richmond, where he led the Spiders to the “Big Dance” in each of the last three seasons, the longest active streak among Virginia-based NCAA Division I programs.

Rousell “has won everywhere he’s been,” USA Today women’s college basketball reporter Mitchell Northam posted on X. “No reason to believe that won’t continue in Charlottesville.”

Great hire. has won everywhere he's been. No reason to believe that won't continue in Charlottesville.
— Mitchell Northam (@primetimeMitch)

Rousell, 46, has 22 years of head coaching experience, including stints at the University of Chicago, Bucknell University and Richmond. At Chicago, which competes at the NCAA Division III level, Rousell led four teams to the NCAA Tournament. He took Bucknell to the NCAA Tournament twice.

Rousell’s overall record is 460-194. He’s a two-time Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year and a two-time Patriot League Coach of the Year.

A University of Iowa alumnus, Roussell and his wife, Molly, have a son, Riley, and two daughters, Kelsey and Kendall.

Roussell, 46, has more than two decades of head coaching experience at the collegiate level. (University of Richmond photo)

He inherits a UVA program coming off a run to the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16.

“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. “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 (John Paul Jones Arena) on our way to creating amazing memories with the UVA faithful.”

In a , University of Richmond President Kevin F. Hallock called Roussell “a fantastic human being (who) has worked hard to develop student-athletes on and off the court. He has dramatically elevated our program, and he will be missed. This is an excellent opportunity for Aaron and his family, and we wish them all the best.”

A formal introduction of Roussell to the UVA community is expected next week.