‘Googs’ headed to alma mater

“Googs” is gone.

Oliver Winterbone, Virginia’s assistant director of basketball operations, is returning to his alma mater.

On Monday, The Daily Progress learned that Winterbone, whose nickname is “Googs,” has accepted a position on Fred Hill’s staff at Rutgers.

Winterbone graduated from Rutgers in 2005. His last day at Virginia is July 1.

“It’s something that has come up in the past and he turned it down,” said Virginia coach Dave Leitao. “This time it was a real good opportunity for him, so he wasn’t going to turn it down.

“Obviously, we’re sorry to see him go, but it’s a positive for him.”

Winterbone, who just completed his third year under Leitao, managed the video library of opponents, assisting the coaching staff with video preparation and scouting reports.

“I’ve had a great experience here,” Winterbone wrote in a text message, “learned more than I could have imagined, won an ACC title, and I’m hoping to help bring similar success to my alma mater.”

In filling Winterbone’s position, Leitao said he will look internally and externally.

“It’s a little bit of a unique position because of the video portion of it,” Leitao said. “It’s a training kind of position to move yourself up the ladder and eventually have a desire to sit in my chair or someone else’s in terms of coaching.”

One name on Leitao’s list is Tim Mein, a recent Virginia alum who has served as head manager the last two years.

“He’s expressed an interest, but I have to look at not what’s best for me or Timmy, but what’s best for the program,” Leitao said. “If it works out that he is [the best candidate], obviously we would be happy for him because he’s admired by everybody. But at the same point in time, I try and not let all of that personal stuff affect our office professionally.”

Winterbone, the grandson of former Virginia football offensive coordinator Ben Wilson (who later coached at Wichita State), is the third member of Leitao’s staff to depart in the last three years.

After the 2005-06 season, Gene Cross (now the head coach at Toledo) accepted an assistant’s spot on Mike Brey’s staff at Notre Dame. Rob Lanier went to work for Billy Donovan at Florida after the ’06-07 campaign.