American University hires Mike Brennan as head basketball coach; assistant Jason Williford to stay at Virginia

After being a leading candidate for the American University head coaching job, Jason Williford ultimately was passed over and, absent unexpected developments, will be back at UVA next season. Williford interviewed for the position last week, and the Daily Progress's Whitey Reid reported that the Virginia assistant was one of three finalists for the job. Ultimately, American decided to go with Mike Brennan, a current coach at Geogetown.

Brennan was formerly an assistant at AU before moving to Georgetown. Four years later, he is moving back (four miles) north, this time to run the American program.

Because Jason Williford is certainly deserving and capable of a D-I head coaching gig, Wahoo fans are lucky to have him back heading into a promising 2013-2014 year. As Coach Bennett's fifth season approaches, the team is somehow poised to enjoy a fifth straight year of staff continuity, a development vital to the program's recent success.

Williford, as well as assistants Ron Sanchez and Ritchie McKay, are all highly regarded basketball coaches, strong recruiters, and respected ambassadors for the program; it won't be long until the right job for them comes along. Rumors also swirled earlier this spring about McKay and the ODU opening.

Before coming to UVA, Coach Williford spent four years at AU and five years at Boston University; he is a 1995 graduate from Virginia. His ties to the DC region have made him an especially strong recruiting presence for the UVA program.

The always-classy Williford tweeted the following this afternoon:

Congrats to my man Mike Brennan on his new job!!Make it happen. Go AU!

— Jason Williford (@CoachWillyUVA) April 30, 2013