The Virginia Cavaliers men’s basketball program has officially secured a full coaching staff. In the first week of April, UVA announced associate head Coach Griff Aldrich and assistant coaches Matt Henry, Bryce Crawford, and Darius Theus.

The staff, led by head coach Ryan Odom, is new to JPJ. But they have overlapped in their individual coaching careers, with Crawford and Henry sharing much of their careers under Odom. And, while some of the former staff under Tony Bennett and Ron Sanchez are seeking or have found new opportunities, the backgrounds of the incoming coaches are encouraging for Virginia’s continued culture and athletic success. Still, a fresh slate of coaching personnel implies transition and a new era of Virginia basketball.

Here’s a deeper look at the incoming men’s basketball coaching staff and what it could mean for the program’s future.

Associate head Coach Griff Aldrich was the first announcement of Odom’s new staff at Virginia. And, his resume is filled with records and monumental program firsts.

Most relevant to Virginia fans is Aldrich’s two-year tenure as director of recruitment and program development at UMBC under Odom, where the team made history as the first No. 16 seed to upset a No. 1 seed in NCAA tournament history. Following his time at UMBC, Alrich took the head coach position at Longwood University and developed a successful program with a 127-100 record, a record three 20-win seasons, and program’s first two Big South Championships. In 2023, he signed a 10-year contract extension with Longwood, which would have kept him in the role until 2034.

But, all roads lead home for Aldrich, a graduate of UVA Law’s class of 2000. Besides, “Longwood’s Five” — the pillars of excellence, grit, humility, gratitude, and service — sound all too familiar to Virginia fans. Despite an unorthodox career path after law school while working for private firms, Aldrich’s connection to UVA, his history of high-achieving players in the classroom, and his coaching success earned him the associate head coach role.

Aldrich and Odom were college teammates at Hampden-Sydney from 1993-96, offering both chemistry on the sidelines and player perspective. Aldrich will serve as the successor to long-time Virginia coach Jason Williford.

Assistant Coach Bryce Crawford has been with Odom throughout their coaching careers. Most recently, Crawford served as Odom’s assistant coach at VCU since 2023, but their partnership dates back even further.

Crawford first worked under Odom at Lenoir-Rhyne before later serving as his assistant coach for two years at Utah State and five years at UMBC. As the former primary coach of Utah State’s guards during his tenure in Logan, Crawford could bring a targeted skillset to the staff.

Crawford is a 2011 graduate of Ohio State and got his start in college basketball as a four-year manager during his undergraduate studies.

Assistant coach Darius adds NCAA Division I playing experience to the new Virginia coaching staff. The former guard played at VCU from 2009-2013, including the program’s Final Four appearance in 2011.

Theus served as director of player development at Texas and was as an assistant coach for a year at Siena before being recruited for a similar position back at VCU by Odom. He is a Ram at heart, having served two prior roles as VCU’s director of player development and director of student-athlete development

Assistant Coach Matt Henry has served under Odom for seven years, including two at VCU, two at Utah State, and three at UMBC. Between his first roles at Trinity University and his eventual career with Odom, Henry even briefly served as an interim head coach at Mount St. Mary’s to close out their 2011-12 season, where he had been serving as an assistant coach. Originally from Virginia, Henry is a 2001 graduate of Trinity University.