After nine seasons and a 59-53 record, Virginia fired head football coach Al Groh. The Cavaliers were 3-9 this year. Don Petersen/ASSOCIATED PRESS Visit the Photo Place

GROH OUT AT U.Va.

Virginia fires Groh

BY TAFT COGHILL JR.

Date published: 11/30/2009

BY TAFT COGHILL JR.

CHARLOTTESVILLE

He has also coached in two Super Bowls.

But Groh said guiding the University of Virginia team is his most memorable coaching experience.

Those nine oftentimes rocky years came to an end yesterday when Groh was fired by Virginia after a 3-9 campaign, the program's third losing season in four years.

The decision to fire Groh came after he met with athletic director Craig Littlepage less than 24 hours after the Cavaliers' season-ending 42-13 loss to Virginia Tech.

Groh, 65, said he knew his time was coming to an end.

"My coaching philosophy and method of building teams has trust and teamwork as bedrocks," Groh said. "We were poised to solidify our position as a top team. Instead, as that trust and collaboration deteriorated, I could see this day coming. We arrived with a set of principles that we have tried to remain faithful to, and we leave with those principles intact."

This season is Virginia's worst since 1982. The Cavaliers had consecutive losing seasons for the first time since 1981-82.

Groh's predecessor, George Welsh, had two losing seasons in 19 years.

The Cavaliers ended this season on a six-game losing streak, and they've dropped 13 of their last 16 games dating back to last season.

Sophomore wide receiver Jared Green said he expected changes to be made because after a 5-7 2008 season three assistant coaches resigned.

Green said the constant speculation about Groh's job didn't affect play on the field, but players were "in denial" if they were unaware his future was in jeopardy.

"I wasn't expecting it this fast," Green said. "But we knew something was going to happen."

Groh, a 1967 Virginia graduate, finished his tenure 59-53. He was 1-8 against rival Virginia Tech, and attendance at Scott Stadium was down this season by an average of 13,600 spectators from two years ago.

Groh had his bright moments.

He guided the Cavaliers to five bowl games, including three wins. He was named Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year after the 2002 and 2007 seasons.

Groh said in his statement that he was privileged to coach at the same school he and his two sons graduated from.

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Date published: 11/30/2009