Virginia coach Mike London out after fourth straight losing season
Virginia coach Mike London is out after his fourth straight losing season, according to a source.
The school later he announced he resigned a day after his team’s 23–20 home loss to Virginia Tech on Saturday, which dropped the Cavaliers to a 4–8 finish to the season, including a 3–5 mark in the ACC. In his six seasons in Charlottesville, the 55-year-old London had a 27–46 record, which included an 14–34 mark in the ACC.
London’s lone winning season came in 2011 with an 8–5 record and a Chick-fil-A bowl appearance. Many were surprised that Virginia athletic director Craig Littlepage elected to have London return this season after he won just one of six games to close last year during a disappointing 5–7 campaign. The Cavaliers showed little improvement this season and ranked 88th in scoring offense and 98th in scoring defense entering Saturday.
London, the first African-American football coach at Virginia, had a couple of highly touted recruiting classes during his tenure but was never able to find consistency nor did he ever beat rival Virginia Tech. London and the school have come to an agreement to pay him approximately $2.7 million through 2016.
London was previously head coach for two years at his alma mater, Richmond, where he won an FCS national title during his debut season in 2008. He was also the Cavaliers’ defensive line coach under his predecessor, Al Groh, from ’01-04 and ’06-07.
Potential candidates to succeed London are Arkansas State coach Blake Anderson, former Texas and North Carolina coach Mack Brown, Air Force coach Troy Calhoun, former Miami and Rutgers coach Al Golden, Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo and former Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Rutgers coach Greg Schiano.
