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Virginia Athletics fires volleyball coaching staff after quick review of personnel matter

Chris Graham

uva athleticsVirginia Athletics has relieved its volleyball staff, including head coach Aaron Smith, of its duties, effective immediately.

The move comes a day after Athletics Director Carla Williams announced that the staff – Smith and assistants Nikki Dailey, Kelsea Kalich and Joe Klein – had been placed on paid administrative leave during a review of a personnel matter.

As a result of these actions, UVA is cancelling the remainder of its 2020-2021 season. Virginia (2-12, 0-11) had four road matches remaining on its spring schedule.

“While I am unable to comment on the details,” Williams said, “I do want to commend our student-athletes for their leadership and express my gratitude for how they have handled a very difficult situation. We will continue to support them as our program moves forward.”

Virginia will immediately begin a national search to fill the head coaching position.

Chris Graham

Chris Graham

Chris Graham, the king of "fringe media," is the founder and editor of Augusta Free Press. A 1994 alum of the University of Virginia, Chris is the author and co-author of seven books, including Poverty of Imagination, a memoir published in 2019, and Team of Destiny: Inside Virginia Basketball’s Run to the 2019 National Championship, and The Worst Wrestling Pay-Per-View Ever, published in 2018. For his commentaries on news, sports and politics, go to his YouTube page, or subscribe to his Street Knowledge podcast. Email Chris at [email protected].