UVa Extends Al Groh's Contract

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Charlottesville, VA Virginia athletics director Craig Littlepage announced Tuesday that he has exercised the option in head football coach Al Groh’s contract to add a year to the agreement. Groh’s contract now runs through the 2011 season.

“This is an indication of confidence on my part and the university’s part in the work that Al and his staff have done,” Littlepage said. “I think it’s also a good indication of the confidence that we have in the future direction of the football program, both in the short term, that is, in the upcoming bowl game, as well as in the long-term future. I’m very pleased we’re at this point.”

This season Groh led Virginia to a 9-3 regular-season record. Tuesday he was announced as the ACC Coach of the Year for the second time in his seven-year tenure with the Cavaliers. He is 51-36 while coaching at his alma mater, including a 31-25 record in ACC contests.

The 2007 season will mark the fifth time during Groh’s tenure the Cavaliers have been invited to a bowl game. UVa is 3-1 in bowl games under Groh’s direction. Including his games while head coach at Wake Forest (1981-86), he is currently tied for seventh in ACC history with 77 conference wins.