Richmond head coach Aaron Roussell named head coach of UVA women’s basketball team

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WRIC) -- Richmond women's basketball coach Aaron Roussell has been hired as the head coach of the University of Virginia's women's basketball team, according to an announcement by the university on Tuesday.

On Tuesday, April 7, UVA shared that its director of athletics, Carla Williams, had announced the hiring of Aaron Rousell as head women's basketball coach.

The university said Rousell will become the seventh head coach in the program's history.

“We are excited to name Aaron Roussell as our new head women’s basketball coach,” Williams said in a press release. “Aaron is a proven winner who embodies the University’s values of integrity, leadership, academic excellence and student-athlete development. We look forward to welcoming Aaron, his wife Molly, and their three children to Grounds for a new era of Virginia Women’s Basketball."

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Roussell spent the last seven seasons at the University of Richmond, leading the Spiders to a 148-72 record and three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. The University of Richmond won the 2024 Atlantic-10 Tournament.

“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 press release. “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 JPJ on our way to creating amazing memories with the UVA faithful.”

The University of Virginia is Rousell's fourth stint as a collegiate head coach, according to the university. Over the past 22 seasons, he has compiled a career record of 460-194, including stops at Bucknell (2012-19) and Division III Chicago (2004-12). 

The University of Richmond also released statements Tuesday regarding Roussell’s departure.

“I'd like to thank Aaron Roussell for his outstanding leadership of the Spider women's basketball program for the last seven years,” Vice President and Director of Athletics John P. Hardt said. “Coach Roussell built a championship program and provided an exciting brand of basketball that captivated the Spider community. Under Aaron's direction, our team reached new competitive heights while representing Richmond in a manner that made Spiders everywhere proud. The University made every effort to retain Aaron, and we're disappointed by his departure. Nonetheless, we wish Aaron, Molly, and the entire Roussell family well at Virginia. We have begun a national search for the next head coach of Spider women's basketball.”

University of Richmond President Kevin F. Hallock also praised Roussell’s tenure.

“Aaron is a fantastic human being and has worked hard to develop student-athletes on and off the court,” Hallock said. “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.”