'We're going to fight'

Dave Leitao, 44, was introduced as Virginia's new leader at a press conference yesterday afternoon.

By TAFT COGHILL JR.

Date published: 4/18/2005

CHARLOTTESVILLE--At a time when Georgetown, St. John's, Villanova and Syracuse ruled the Big East, Dave Leitao was part of the University of Connecticut's rise to the top of college basketball as an associate head coach under Jim Calhoun.

He also helped rebuild DePaul's program while going head-to-head with big name coaches Rick Pitino (Louisville), Bob Huggins (Cincinnati) and John Calipari (Memphis) in Conference USA for the past three years.

That's part of the reason University of Virginia hired the former DePaul head coach to take over for Pete Gillen, who resigned on March 14 after seven seasons.

"What Dave did in standing up to those guys was very persuasive," Virginia athletic director Craig Littlepage said.

Leitao, 44, was introduced as Virginia's new leader at a press conference yesterday afternoon.

He talked about taking Virginia to a "championship level" and said he won't be intimidated by the Atlantic Coast Conference.

"It's arguably the best basketball conference in America," said Leitao, who maintains a close relationship with Calhoun. "But the fortunate thing for me is that when Coach Calhoun and I first got to Connecticut, there were some of the greatest teams and names in coaching in that era [in the Big East]. We took it as a great challenge. I look at this the same way. Whoever we play against will know that we're going to fight for every inch of the floor. We're going to be the toughest out they'll face."

Leitao, who knows Virginia President John T. Casteen III from their days at Connecticut, said there aren't any reasons Virginia can't be a successful program.

"So many people ask why and I always ask why not," Leitao said. "I looked at the University of Virginia and asked, 'Why can't it be successful?' I couldn't find any answers to that question."

Virginia announced on Saturday that Leitao accepted a 5-year contract with a base salary of $215,000. With media and apparel driven revenue, his yearly salary rises to $925,000. He becomes Virginia's first African-American head coach in any sport.

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Date published: 4/18/2005