The University of Virginia fired its head women’s basketball coach, Amaka Agugua-Hamilton, in a shocking move after the Cavaliers made a surprise run to the Sweet 16, though reports suggest a toxic culture had developed within the program.
Virginia had been coming off one of the program’s most successful seasons in recent memory – reaching the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2000 – when the school made the announcement that Agugua-Hamilton was out in a terse statement released over the weekend.
But behind the scenes, Agugua-Hamilton was the subject of an internal investigation, USA Today reported.
The outlet also reported that there had been allegations of staff mistreatment.
Virginia sports reporter Jerry Ratcliffe reported, following the announcement, that the entire women’s basketball team, except for two players, had been preparing to enter the transfer portal.
Agugua-Hamilton had created an environment where her support staff had feared for their jobs due to abusive behavior towards them and threats to fire them, Ratcliffe reported.
“It was a toxic, nightmarish atmosphere,” one source told him.
Virginia did not provide a reason for their decision when they made the announcement.
Agugua-Hamilton had one year remaining on her current contract when the school announced its decision.
In its three-sentence statement, Virginia said that it would begin a national search for a new head coach immediately.
Agugua-Hamilton had led the Cavaliers to a 70-58 record, including a 29-42 record in the ACC, after she was hired by UVA athletic director Carla Williams in 2022 to rebuild the program.
Virginia made an incredible run in the NCAA Tournament and became the first team from the First Four to reach the regional semifinals.
During their march through the tournament, the Cavaliers knocked off No. 7 Georgia and then toppled No. 2 Iowa in double overtime.
Virginia was knocked out by TCU.
Before the reports of the allegations against Agugua-Hamilton, the news caught many off guard, including former Virginia women’s basketball player and current South Carolina coach, Dawn Staley.
“I did reach out to our athletic director at Virginia and she just told me they did part ways. I don’t know why. We’ll talk,” Staley said. “I did reach out to Coach Mox to check on her. I didn’t have time to have a conversation with her. I don’t know what went wrong. She had them on the right track.”
Agugua-Hamilton previously coached at Missouri State and led that program to two NCAA Tournament appearances.