Longtime leader of UVA’s lacrosse-program Lars Tiffany will officially not return next season, per a statement from the school:
“Virginia Athletics announced today (May 18) Lars Tiffany will not return as head coach of the men’s lacrosse program. Tiffany posted a 108-51 record, including back-to-back national championships in 2019 and 2021, in 10 seasons at Virginia. A national search will begin immediately.“
Chatter around
Tiffany’s future peaked early last week after Matt Nestler first reported the longtime UVA coach would not be returning to the school, news that ended up being true days later.
Tiffany took the reins back in 2016, looking to rebuild a historic Cavalier program that had fallen on hard times — and he did just that and more. Under his guidance, the ‘Hoos racked up three ACC titles (two of which came in the on again-off again conference tournament). Tiffany won 68% of his games throughout his decade-long tenure, including six NCAA Tournament berths, four semifinal appearances, and those two national championships in 2019 and 2021.
The 2026 Cavaliers limped out of the gate, starting the season 3-4, despite two of those four losses coming to talented teams in Towson and Richmond. From then-on, the ‘Hoos went on a tear. Becoming one of the hottest teams in the sport in the second half of the season, the ’Hoos ripped off four straight wins, two coming against No. 1 Notre Dame and No. 7 Duke to book a trip to the ACC Tournament. There, they looked much like the UVA teams of old with great goalie play and overwhelming offensive firepower across both games to take home a conference title and successfully work their way into the NCAA’s. The Wahoos ultimately lost in the first round at home to Georgetown as the fifth overall seed.
From the moment UVA’s season came to an end, speculation around the future of its coaching staff arose with Tiffany’s contract set to expire. A report by CVille Right Now covered Tiffany’s desire and expectation to remain in Charlottesville heading into the offseason days ago. But those feelings obviously did not align with the athletic department’s plans. The lack of immediate information on whether it be to re-sign or let Tiffany go from UVA’s athletic department certainly drew a cloud over this story for over a week.
As the school conducts its search for the team’s next head coach, we’ll be sure to have updates as it plays out here at STL.
