It’s official: London is Virginia’s head football coach
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Mike London Press Conference
UVa Athletics Director Craig Littlepage introduces new football head coach Mike London.
MARK GORMUS/TIMES-DISPATCH.
Mike London was named Head Football Coach at the University of Virginia at a press conference held at John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville.
CHARLOTTESVILLE -- Mike London is the new head football coach at the University of Virginia, U.Va. Athletics Director Craig Littlepage announced today. London returns the university after twice serving stints as an assistant coach. He becomes the 39th head coach in the program's history.
"Coach London's experience as a championship head coach, combined with a variety of college and pro assistant coaching assignments position him for success at the University of Virginia," Littlepage said. "He understands how to develop and implement a program that prioritizes the academic achievement of his players and winning at the highest levels of college football. Mike London is a coach around whom we can all rally as he goes about the task of building a successful football program at Virginia."
In two seasons at Richmond, London led the Spiders to a 24-5 record. His first year at the helm his team went 13-3 and won the Football Championship Series national title. This year's Spider team, ranked nine consecutive weeks at No. 1 in the FCS polls, went 11-2 and reached the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs.
"We are pleased to welcome Mike London back to the University," said University President John T. Casteen III. "Mike's personal values and commitment to excellence -- combined with his understanding of University culture and his proven ability to build a strong team -- will make the London era in Virginia football a good time, perhaps the best of times, for players, fans, and the University generally."
"Words cannot express my gratitude and heartfelt emotions for this opportunity," London said. "To be the head football coach at as prestigious of an institution as the University of Virginia is a dream come true. Over the years, a lot of people have helped me to make this possible. I have been fortunate to stand on the shoulders of many coaches, players, administrators and University communities in which my family has lived. We are excited about this new opportunity and endeavor. We look forward to establishing a renewed relationship with our new community and football family."
The parties have agreed to a contract that will pay London $1.7 million annually for five years. London's financial agreement is the responsibility of the Department of Athletics. The department is a stand-alone auxiliary that relies on a number of different revenue streams, including ticket and merchandise sales, student fees, ACC television revenues, and philanthropic gifts to support its day-to-day operations. The department does not receive state funding.
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Reader Reactions
A whole lot of hating as always on this site , But Welshwoman you have really out done yourself . Well I am happy Coach London has stepped up a level , and it’s a shame some of you continue to stoop to new lows .Hate , jealously , it’ll kill ya .
Why in the world does Littlepage think he had to pay this guy $1.7 million? He really wouldn’t have left for $1,000,000 which is three times what he made at Richmond! And he hasn’t caoched a single game at the D 1 level. Even at Richmond he was winning with his predecessor’s recruits.
They just announced the salary for the new Fla State coach…$1.8 million. What’s wrong with this picture?
Littlepage strikes again, throwing UVA money around like it’s government stimulus money!
I will give him a chance and see what happens. Its not like any big name coach around the country is going to come here. We need another basketball coach as well. I like our recruiting, we may not win all the games but UVA has good charachter and rarely do you hear of any of their athletes in trouble like another school around here.
Welshwoman—So I see you are a racist with an opinion. Just that an opinion. If you dont like sports why comment. Please tell us what does being black have to do with Mike London leaving to be UVA’s head football coach? There are only two African-American head football coaches his that division. So do your homework before remarking. Not only are atletes about about their money, in this day and time I am about my money as well. People leave jobs all the time to make more money. Mike had a great run at Richmond, but UVA is where his heart has always been. Now that I think on it your entire post was a big waste. Probably just like your life. Get a hobby! By the way the health care system is mostly to take care of people who are over 55 and cannot afford healthcare or those who dont make enough to pay for on their own. You see VA and most other states have Medicaid to pay for children who dont have it. Also, another fact, many athletes who have children take care fot their babies.
Web em’- Once again, I don’t think London is a bad guy and of course I understand his decision. For the last time my point was that the situation was poorly handled by London and UVA. London should have either announced his departure when he made up his mind (which WAS before the end of the season) or he should have waited until the end of the season before he even started thinking about leaving. He should have wanted to win that game as badly as those who paid to freeze their butts off. I don’t believe that you can be 100% invested in a team when in your mind you’ve committed to another. As a UR alum, wanting to win another championship, I really couldn’t care less about his relationship with Littlepage, UVA football, and especially the UVA alumni. London, though a great person and coach, can still make mistakes. Believe it or not, he’s not perfect.
I see that Welshwoman and some others have some serious issues. What is the problem with someone going to the next level? This is done in corporate America all the time. I bet half of teh guys making comments on here are “ham and eggers” and never put on a helment or shoulder pads and basically those who can’t can only sit on there fat rumps and criticize. Good luck Coach London!!
All London is doing is looking out for himself - greed, selfish, money grubbing people are not the example I would want for my children. Sports used to be about integrity, playing the game by the rules. Now, it’s about blacks, cheating and who gets the most money so they drink, drug, gamble, womanize and use people to get what they want. No integrity, no cares about being a decent person. I hate sports, professional and college now. Women’s sports have more talent and more integrity by far than men’s sports will ever have again. Very sad. Men used to be men - respectable, honest, decent, caring people. Now, they’re all about themselves and their testosterone. No wonder the country is a mess and now they want to create a health care system to take care of all the losers children left behind by these losers.
This hire guarantees VT will continue its dominance over UVA, in recruiting and on the field.
barefoot chap: What kind of crack are you smoking? You need some rest, go to bed!
To commonsense: Mike London’s situation wasn’t the norm. He already knew Littlepage on a very personal level and they probably talked monthly since he left, so they were probably having a dialogue all along which was a huge advantage for London over any other candidates.So I understood this from the get-go and am not upset that he left, I really expected it. Mike was a sophomore when I graduated and he was a nice guy with a big heart but an extremely competitive athlete come game time and he is all business when the clock starts ticking. He was one tough cookie and still is. This should turn into a very good, if not the best decision Littlepage has made and will hopefully put him back in the good graces of the UVA Alumni because up to this point his situation was on level with Groh’s, very unstable.
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