University of Virginia athletic director Carla Williams announced Thursday that the entire women's volleyball coaching staff has been relieved of its duties, effectively ending the Cavaliers' season with six matches remaining on the schedule.
As reported by NBC affiliate WVIR in Charlottesville, head coach Aaron Smith and his staff — Nikki Dailey, Joe Klein and Kelsea Kalich — had been placed on paid administrative leave a day earlier during a review of a personnel matter. Smith had been with the Cavaliers nine seasons. This was his fourth season as the program's head coach. A national search for his replacement will begin immediately.
“While I am unable to comment on the details, I do want to commend our student-athletes for their leadership and express my gratitude for how they have handled a very difficult situation,” Williams said in a statement. “We will continue to support them as our program moves forward.”
The Cavaliers were 2-12 overall this season, including an 0-11 mark in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
