Aaron Roussel hired as women's basketball coach at Virginia after abrupt firing of Agugua-Hamilton
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) — Aaron Roussell was hired as Virginia's women's basketball coach on Tuesday, just three days after the Cavaliers abruptly fired Amaka Agugua-Hamilton coming off the team's run to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. Roussell joins the Cavaliers from Richmond, where he led the Spiders to a 148-72 record over the past seven seasons and made it to each of the past three NCAA Tournaments.
The Spiders lost in the First Four this year. “Aaron is a proven winner who embodies the University’s values of integrity, leadership, academic excellence and student-athlete development,” Virginia athletic director Carla Williams said in a statement. Agugua-Hamilton led the Cavaliers to the NCAA regional semifinals for the first time since 2000.
She went 70-58, including a 29-42 mark in Atlantic Coast Conference play, in four seasons. No reason was given for her dismissal. Following Agugua-Hamilton's departure, forward Sa’Myah Smith entered the transfer portal, saying she and her family made the decision “due to the coaching change and uncertainty.
” Smith averaged 7. 9 points and 6. 8 rebounds this season.
Guard Kymora Johnson, who led the team with an average of 19. 5 points and 5. 9 assists, and fellow guard Gabby White also entered the portal.