From Mike London‘s perspective, he’s either received a vote of confidence from his boss or the dreaded vote of confidence. One of the two.
Thanks to a 2-4 start to the 2013 season that’s part of a 6-14 stretch that dates back to late November of the 2011 season, questions and speculation have been swirling around the future of London as Virginia’s head coach. In an attempt to get ahead of the rumor mill, UVa. athletic director Craig Littlepage and unequivocally stated that London will be the Cavaliers’ coach in 2014.
“I don’t want there to be uncertainty about what I believe the future to be, which is with Mike London as our coach,” the AD said according to the Washington Post.
“He’s done a lot of things that he thought were important for us in terms of adjustments to the coaching staff, some other things relative to the program that I think were important and will bear fruit for us. I support him and I have supported him. Nothing has changed in that regard. ... If there was uncertainty, it isn’t because of anything other than somebody might have an agenda. I’ve been very clear.”
As the Post points out, it would be a costly move for Littlepage to jettison London after the 2013 season: nearly $8.1 million for London’s buyout, plus an additional $3.1 million to buy out the coaching staff.
This is London’s fourth year in Charlottesville, with his best season coming in 2011. The Cavaliers were 8-5 -- the program’s best mark since 2007 -- and London was a target in at least a couple of high-profile coaching searches, including Penn State. The outside interest ultimately netted London a raise and extension in December of 2011.
A 4-8 2012 season, however, took the bloom off London’s coaching rose, prompting the head coach to ax nearly half his coaching staff in an attempt to turn around the program’s fortunes.