Virginia suddenly fires head coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton despite March Madness Cinderella run
Agugua-Hamilton led the No. 10-seeded Hoos to the school's first Sweet 16 finish since 2000.
In a stunning move, Virginia has fired women’s basketball head coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton, one week after the conclusion of the Cavaliers’ Cinderella run at the NCAA tournament . A statement released by the school on Saturday added that a search for a new head coach will begin immediately. The school did not provide any reason for Agugua-Hamilton’s firing, saying simply that she “will not return” as the team’s head coach.
Virginia Announces Leadership Change for Women’s Basketball https://t. co/c10vAcDl70 — Virginia Women's Basketball (@UVAWomensHoops) April 4, 2026 The move comes despite a historic postseason run for No. 10 Virginia, who became the first team in March Madness history to make the Sweet 16 after playing in the First Four.
The Hoos narrowly beat Arizona State to advance to the main field, before completing back-to-back upsets in overtime — first outlasting No. 7 Georgia before stunning No. 2 Iowa in double OT .
Virginia’s magical run came to an end against TCU in the Sweet 16. This was Agugua-Hamilton’s fourth year as Virginia’s head coach, with the 42-year-old bringing Virginia back to the big dance for the first time since 2018. The Hoos’ return to the Sweet 16 was the school’s first since 2000.