Bill Courtney Named Assistant Coach At Virginia

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July 7, 2006

CHARLOTTESVILLE – Bill Courtney, an assistant coach at Providence College the last year, has joined the University of Virginia men’s basketball coaching staff. Courtney’s appointment was announced Friday (July 7) by Virginia head coach Dave Leitao.

“After evaluating our program and staff, I’m pleased Bill is joining us,” Leitao said. “He brings a wealth of experience, energy and recruiting contacts that will enhance our program. Bill comes very highly recommended by coaches and players he’s been associated with through the years. I’m happy to have an individual of his caliber join our staff.”

Prior to joining the staff at Providence in June of 2005, Courtney was a member of Jim Larranaga’s coaching staff at George Mason University for eight years (1997-2005). He was the associate head coach at George Mason from 2002 until his departure for Providence. He served as an assistant coach on Larranaga’s staff at Bowling Green State University for one year (1996-97) before moving to George Mason with Larranaga prior to the 1997-98 season.

Courtney began his collegiate coaching career at American University where he was an assistant coach in 1995-96.

“I am extremely excited to be joining Dave Leitao’s staff at the University of Virginia,” Courtney said. “I hope to help build on the accomplishments of last year and look forward to even more success in the future.”

Before coaching at the college level, Courtney was an assistant varsity coach for boys’ basketball at James Robinson Secondary School in Fairfax, Va., for two years (1992-94) and an assistant coach at Thomas Jefferson Science & Technology School in Alexandria, Va., for one year (1994-95).

A native of Springfield, Va., Courtney is a 1992 graduate of Bucknell University with a bachelor’s degree in education. He earned four letters in basketball at Bucknell and was an All-Patriot League selection as a junior and a senior. Courtney led the Patriot League in scoring (20.0 ppg.) as a junior and averaged 18.3 points a game as a senior. He served as a team captain and was Bucknell’s Most Valuable Player his last two seasons on the team.

After graduating from Bucknell, Courtney played professionally for the Philadelphia Spirit of the United States Basketball League and for the Milwaukee Bucks’ NBA Summer League team in 1992. He also played in Hong Kong during the summers of 1993 and 1994. He was named the league’s Most Valuable Player and the Asian All-Star game MVP in 1993.

Courtney and his wife, Gina, have two sons.

Courtney replaces Gene Cross, who accepted an assistant coaching position at the University of Notre Dame, on the Virginia men’s basketball coaching staff.