Virginia Fires Women’s Basketball Head Coach Tina Thompson

Thompson went 30-63 in her four seasons as UVA's head coach

One day after the Cavaliers were eliminated from the ACC Tournament, Virginia women’s basketball head coach Tina Thompson has been fired, as announced by Virginia director of athletics Carla Williams on Thursday afternoon. 

“Unfortunately, we have not experienced the kind of success this program has come to expect and deserve,” Williams said in a press release on Thursday. “I am thankful for Coach Thompson’s efforts and I wish her the very best.”

Thompson, who was hired as UVA’s head coach on April 16, 2018, had one year remaining on her contract when it was terminated. In Thompson’s four seasons at Virginia, the Cavaliers went 30-63, including a record of 5-22 this season, which came to an end on Wednesday night with UVA's 51-63 loss to Wake Forest in the first round of the ACC Women's Basketball Tournament. 

After increasing their win total in Thompson's first two years from the 2018-2019 season to the 2019-2020 season, the program fell on hard times during the COVID-19-impacted 2020-2021 season, as the Cavaliers played just five games before cancelling the remainder of the season. Virginia went nearly two full calendar years without winning an ACC game before winning back-to-back conference games late in the 2021-2022 season. UVA finished this season with an overall 5-22 record and a 2-16 mark in ACC play. 

Williams stated that she is commencing a national search to hire the next head head coach of the Virginia women's basketball program. 

---

Who should be hired as the next Virginia women's basketball head coach? Share your thoughts at Cavaliers Now Forums

---

Read more from Cavaliers Now

Virginia Looks to End Regular Season on Positive Note at Louisville

Malcolm Brogdon Drops 31 Points, Leads Pacers to Comeback Win Over Magic

Reece Beekman Snubbed for Defensive Player of the Year Semifinalists

Virginia Stays Rolling With 12-0 Win Against William & Mary

Petey LaSalla Named ACC Defensive Player of the Week

Tony Bennett on Jayden Gardner Returning: "I would hope he would strongly consider coming back"

Jake Gelof Named ACC Baseball Player of the Week