Tina Thompson is Virginia’s new women’s basketball coach, the school announced on Monday afternoon. She comes to the school after being an associate head coach at Texas this past season. Thompson was promoted to associate head coach after two years as an assistant with the Longhorns.
Thompson, who graduated from Southern California in 1997, is the fifth head coach in the 44-year history of the UVa women’s basketball program. She will be introduced at a press conference at 1 p.m. on Wednesday at John Paul Jones Arena.
“I am thrilled to have Tina Thompson as our new women’s basketball coach,” Virginia athletic director Carla Williams said in a press release announcing the hire. “She is one of the best to ever play the game and she has experienced tremendous success at all levels of the game. I am looking forward to working with her and supporting her vision for Virginia basketball.”
This is Williams’ first head coaching hire as UVa’s athletic director. Thompson replaces Joanne Boyle, who retired from coaching following a second round NCAA Tournament appearance this season. It was the Cavaliers’ first NCAA Tournament appearance in Boyle’s seven years as the program’s head coach.
When Thompson retired in 2013, she was the all-time leading scorer in WNBA history, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, a four-time WNBA champion and was the first player drafted in the history of the WNBA.
“I am extremely excited about the opportunity to become the next women’s basketball coach at the University of Virginia,” Thompson said in the release. “I am grateful for the opportunity to lead a program with such a rich history. This program is in an exciting place with a hardworking group of young ladies. It is my intention to continue the winning ways coach Joanne Boyle has built with this impressionable group.
“My sentiments mirror that of my 12-year-old son, Dyllan. When I told him the great news, he said, ‘Wait! Mom are you kidding? I mean wow. Isn’t that a good program? Correction. Great program! I am so happy for you. We will do great things there!’ My response to him was that I could not agree more! I am excited about meeting my team, getting to know them and pouring into them.”
Thompson’s coaching experience is limited. She began her coaching career at Texas in 2015. The Longhorns were successful in Thompson’s three years as an assistant coach, making it to the Sweet 16 the past two seasons, and the Elite Eight in 2016.
Thompson will be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame on Sept. 7.
“I am forever grateful for the opportunity [head coach] Karen Aston and the University of Texas provided me,” Thompson said in the release. “My experience there has helped to prepare me for this moment. I want to thank Carla Williams for this coveted opportunity. I appreciate her courage and her outside-of-the-box thought process. Wahoowa!”