Former Virginia Men's Basketball Head Coach Terry Holland Dies at 80

The legendary UVA basketball head coach passed away on Sunday after a long battle with Alzheimer's

Geoff Burke/USA TODAY Sports

Former Virginia men's basketball head coach Terry Holland died on Sunday, February 26th in Charlottesville. Holland, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2019, was 80 years old. 

Holland coached the Virginia men's basketball team for 16 seasons from 1974 to 1990, leading the Cavaliers to two NCAA Final Four appearances in 1981 and 1984, the program's first ACC Tournament Championship in 1976, an NIT title in 1980, three-straight ACC regular season titles from 1981-1983, and nine NCAA Tournament appearances, a period that put the UVA men's basketball program on the map. 

At the time of his retirement in 1990, Holland was UVA's all-time winningest head coach with a record of 326-173, a record that stood for 33 years until Tony Bennett surpassed him earlier this season. He recruited and developed several legendary Virginia basketball stars, including Ralph Sampson, Wally Walker, Jeff Lamp, and Bryant Stith. Holland also has an impressive coaching tree of assistants who went on to find success in their own careers after coaching under Holland, including Jim Larrañaga, Jeff Jones, Dave Odom, Craig Littlepage, Seth Greenberg, and Mike Schuler. 

"As both a successful coach and respected administrator, Terry Holland leaves an indelible imprint on the University of Virginia, the ACC, college basketball, and college athletics," said ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips. "He was a true gentleman that embraced his players and colleagues as family. Our hearts will remain with his wife Ann and the entire Holland family."

Holland coached for five years at his alma mater Davidson and compiled an overall record of 418-216 in 21 years as a head coach. Holland also spent four years as the athletic director at Davidson after his retirement from coaching before returning to UVA to serve as the school's athletic director from 1994 to 2001. He then served as the athletic director at East Carolina from 2004 to 2013. 

Holland is survived by his wife, Ann, two daughters Ann-Michael and Kate, and three grandchildren.