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.
He takes over a team that finished 14-15, and in last place in the ACC this past season. The Cavaliers, who will lose senior starters Elton Brown and Devin Smith, last made the NCAA tournament in 2001. They'll return three standout perimeter players in point guard Sean Singletary, shooting guard J.R. Reynolds and forward Gary Forbes.
"I've watched film recently, and I see a team with a lot of potential," Leitao said. "Whatever went on, I'll put on the back shelf and focus on the only thing that matters--tomorrow."
Leitao had a two-year stint as head coach at his alma mater, Northeastern, before returning to his job as associate head coach at Connecticut. He then left for DePaul.
His DePaul team advanced to the second round of the NIT this past season and finished 20-11. He was 58-34 in his three seasons at the Chicago school, including a 22-10 campaign that concluded with a second-round loss in the NCAA tournament to eventual national champion Connecticut in 2004.
Leitao said he builds his teams on defense and rebounding. The Cavaliers allowed opponents to shoot close to 45 percent from the floor last season.
"I'm very excited to be a student under his teachings," Virginia freshman forward Adrian Joseph said. "Defense wins games."
Said Littlepage: "His teams play shut-out defense. His teams guard you. His teams make a statement about how the game is going to be played."
Other Cavaliers expressed optimism about Leitao's arrival as well.
Backup point guard T.J. Bannister said he looks forward to shooting more. Bannister said Gillen and his staff discouraged him from shooting, making the sophomore a non-factor offensively.
"I shot 42 percent from the 3-point line in high school, but when I'd miss one 3, they'd tell me not to shoot," Bannister said. "They held me back, and it made me hesitant."
It was a tense month between Gillen's resignation and Leitao's hiring for players. Bannister said the team worked out on its own, but that it felt "weird."
Forbes squelched rumors that he'll transfer yesterday. He said that he gave it some thought because there was so much uncertainty surrounding the program, but has decided to stay.
Forbes has three friends who played for Leitao at DePaul, and all had high praise.
"They say he's a great guy, a great family man, and a really good coach," Forbes said. "He's going to be good for us."
To reach TAFT COGHILL: 540/374-5526 tcoghill@freelancestar.com