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Tina Thompson named Virginia’s new head coach

By Arielle Chambers

MEMPHIS, TN - MARCH 30: Tina Thompson participates during the Memphis Grizzlies first annual Girl's Summit on March 30, 2017 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
MEMPHIS, TN - MARCH 30: Tina Thompson participates during the Memphis Grizzlies first annual Girl's Summit on March 30, 2017 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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MEMPHIS, TN – MARCH 30: Tina Thompson participates during the Memphis Grizzlies first annual Girl’s Summit on March 30, 2017 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
MEMPHIS, TN – MARCH 30: Tina Thompson participates during the Memphis Grizzlies first annual Girl’s Summit on March 30, 2017 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Women’s basketball icon Tina Thompson is taking her talents to the east coast. The University of Virginia Athletic Director Carla Williams revealed Thompson’s new position as the head coach of the Virginia women’s basketball team this afternoon. She is the university’s fifth head coach in program history.

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Thompson has had a stellar year, reflective of all of her legendary accomplishments.  A few weeks ago, it was annouced that she’d be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame 2018 class, along with another women’s basketball great, Katie Smith. The ceremony will be  held on September 7.

Other achievements in Thompson’s career include two Olympic gold medals, four WNBA championships and the top spot in the WNBA all-time leading scoring record books until Diana Taurasi passed her this season. She was also the first player drafted in the history of the WNBA.

Thompson joins the Cavaliers from Karen Aston’s staff with the Texas Longhorns.  In her three seasons as an associate head coach at Texas, the Longhorns recorded an overall record of 84-21 and reached a NCAA Elite Eight in 2016

As associate head coach, Thompson focused on player development, which makes her ideal for transitioning into a new program, a new conference, a new coast. Thompson intends on building upon an already successful Cavaliers team in a post-Joanne Boyle era.

Boyle, upon announcing her retirement from coaching on March 20, 2018, leaves with 333 wins under her belt.  Her 129-99 record summed up her seven year tenure in Charlottesville, VA.   The 2017-18 team made the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2010.

Thompson said she is “extremely excited…grateful for the opportunity to lead a program with such rich history.”

Virginia finished seventh in ACC final standings for the 2017-18 season with a 22-9, 10-6 record.

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