Leitao’s contract paid him $925,000 per year with five-percent annual increases. All told, he banked well over $6 million.

Initially, the style was a good fit for Virginia’s personnel. But in the end, its free-flowing nature and over-dependence on guards and the 3-point shot made UVa too one-dimensional.

When Dave Leitao was hired by Virginia in the spring of 2005, it was expected that if he only brought one thing with him from his previous coaching stops, it would be his defensive teachings.

When Virginia players received a text message early Monday from the coaching staff requesting their presence at a meeting in the locker room at John Paul Jones Arena, they figured it was time to go over offseason goals or workout routines.

A photo timeline of important games during Dave Leitao’s Virginia career.

Leitao’s tenure ended with time left on his contract, as happened with his predecessor, Pete Gillen.

“I’m just real upset about the decision to let him go,” said Singletary, whose No. 44 was retired last month. “It’s tough. I’m real upset about it.“

Instead of hitting a home run and bringing in a Hall of Famer in Tubby Smith, then at Kentucky, the UVa search committee whiffed when it settled for an unproven Dave Leitao. Clearly, the school didn’t do its homework.

Sources have told The Daily Progress that it is a virtual certainty that Tristan Spurlock — a highly-rated recruit from Rockville, Md. who had committed to UVa during the early-signing period — will not be coming to Charlottesville.

Virginia men’s basketball coach Dave Leitao’s career in pictures.

Forum excerpt: I thought the termination of Leitao was appropriate—his tendency to bench his players who simply made a mistake in an attempt to teach them a lesson is not the way to instill confidence in its players!

“Dave has been a respected colleague and a fine university representative in the local community during his tenure here,“ Athletics Director Craig Littlepage said.
Discussion Thread

When Dave Leitao came to Charlottesville four years ago he said that Virginia basketball had become “irrelevant” on the college basketball landscape.

Most of Virginia’s basketball team will focus on trying to upset Boston College in tonight’s opening round of the ACC Tournament. There’s more on tri-captain Calvin Baker’s mind.

When Virginia lost to Boston College at home in February, it was a turning point of sorts. UVa coach Dave Leitao, upset with his players’ intensity, made some drastic changes.