Cavaliers Part Ways with Women’s Basketball Coach Mox After Two Seasons

In a move that has sent shockwaves through the Commonwealth’s college basketball scene, the University of Virginia has dismissed head women’s basketball coach Amaka “Mox” Agugua-Hamilton. The decision comes just weeks after she led the Cavaliers to their first NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen appearance in nearly three decades.

Athletic Director Carla Williams announced the change Monday, stating the department’s standard is “to compete for ACC and national championships.” While acknowledging the team’s recent postseason success, Williams indicated a belief that a new direction was necessary to reach those lofty goals. “We are grateful for the hard work and dedication that Coach Mox and her staff have put in over the last two years,” Williams said in a released statement.

Agugua-Hamilton, hired in 2022 from Missouri State, compiled a 42-29 record in Charlottesville. Her second season was a resounding success by recent program standards, finishing 16-16 and securing a No. 7 seed in the tournament. The Cavaliers then upset No. 10 seed UNLV and No. 2 seed Baylor before falling to eventual runner-up Iowa in the Seattle 3 Regional semifinal.

For Virginia fans who have watched the men’s program reclaim glory, the timing is puzzling. The Sweet Sixteen run ignited excitement around a women’s program that had struggled for consistent relevance. The search for a new coach begins immediately, with the pressure on Williams to find a leader who can build on this unexpected momentum and satisfy the heightened expectations now surrounding the team in Scott Stadium’s shadow.