Mike London to return as UVA Head Coach next season

The University of Virginia announced today in a release that Virginia Football Head Coach Mike London will return in the same capacity for the 2015-2016 season. Friday's contest against Virginia Tech, a team the Hoos have lost to for 10 straight years now, will have no bearing on his employment at Virginia.

Here's the full statement from Director of Athletics Craig Littlepaige as released in a statement this afternoon:

"It was important to see improvement in our football program this season," Littlepage said. "I've seen signs of progress in many areas. Through the staff changes made over the last two years, we are better at teaching the game and in the overall development of the student-athletes. We also continue to notice the commitment by this group of coaches and student-athletes to their academic and community responsibilities.

"The staff has re-focused its recruiting efforts to emphasize the need to attract student-athletes capable of helping the program compete at a high level in the expanded Atlantic Coast Conference," Littlepage added. "We are seeing many of these student-athletes on the field right now and the staff continues to have success on the recruiting trail. We will continue to support the program in their efforts to maximize their recruiting success.

"It's important for each of our sports programs to continue to show progress and follow a plan to compete for conference championships and in postseason competition to support the department's goals," Littlepage said. "I trust the plan Mike has in place and believe his leadership provides the best opportunity for Virginia football to be successful in the future."

Virginia is 23-37 (24-31) under Mike London's almost-five-year tenure at the helm. A win on Friday will snap a 10-game losing streak to the Hokies and the Hokies' 21-year bowl streak, the second longest active streak in the country. It will also send Virginia bowling for the first time since 2011.