UVA Football: Coaching staff in contract limbo heading into spring

UVA Football coach Tony Elliott’s three coordinators all signed extensions in the December 2023-January 2024 window running through March 31, 2026.

We’re at March 10, at this writing, and none of the three – offensive coordinator Des Kitchings, defensive coordinator John Rudzinski, special teams coordinator Keith Gaither – have signed extensions.

I found this out today with a response from the Freedom of Information Act office at the University of Virginia.

I’d written on Sunday, so, technically, Monday, to ask for copies of their latest contractual agreements that are on file.

What I got back: the contracts each had signed in the December 2023-January 2024 window.

Nothing new.

Spring practice is set to begin on Monday, March 16, two weeks and a day before their contracts would expire.

I assume this is just a formality, though, come on, get this addressed already, right?

I also asked, in my FOIA request, for the latest contract for Elliott, whose deal runs through May 31, 2028 – basically, the end of the 2027 season, and then following the spring schedule for 2028.

Nothing new for Elliott, either, which stands out to me – not extending him now means he’s recruiting the high schools with two years and change left on his contract, which you know other coaches are using against him on the recruiting trail.

The guy just had an 11-win season.

He’s also navigating his way around the realization that UVA Football played wide receiver Jahmal Edrine all season after Albemarle County Police raided his apartment five days ahead of the 2025 season opener in connection with an investigation into an alleged rape and abduction for which Edrine was later indicted.

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ICYMI

• Bond set for former UVA Football wideout Jahmal Edrine in rape, abduction case

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A sticky wicket, that one.

Elliott is due to be paid $3.9 million in salary and supplemental compensation in 2026, and $4.05 million in 2027.

Down the road in Blacksburg, Virginia Tech hired James Franklin, late of Penn State, on a five-year deal averaging $8.25 million per year, though most of that money – a cool $26 million – is due to him in the final two years of the term.

If I’m Elliott right now, I’m wondering why UVA Athletics isn’t taking care of me and my guys.