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Virginia Cavaliers football head coach Bronco Mendenhall has signed a two-year contract extension, the University announced on Thursday morning. His contract now goes through the 2024 football season.
“We are excited about the direction of the Virginia football program under the guidance and leadership of Bronco Mendenhall,” Williams said in a released statement. “He has done an exceptional job of establishing a culture of excellence on the field, in the community and in the classroom. He is driven to elevate Virginia Football to a championship standard in all areas and the Athletics Master Plan is evidence of our commitment to Coach Mendenhall, his staff and our student-athletes. I am excited about the future and we look forward to continued progress under his leadership.”
In his three seasons at the helm at Virginia, Mendenhall has amassed a 16-22 record, after inheriting a program that had finished 4-8 the season before. With cupboards bare, Mendenhall’s team finished 2-10 in his inaugural season, and has since improved to a 6-7 record in his second season with a blowout loss to Navy in the Military Bowl, to last season’s overachieving 8-5 performance with a commanding victory over South Carolina in the Belk Bowl.
It’s the first time since the 2004 and 2005 seasons that the Cavaliers have gone to back-to-back bowl games.
“Every day I stop and reflect on how truly blessed I am to be the football coach at a world-class university such as Virginia and to live in such a wonderful community,” Mendenhall said in a statement. “This is truly a privilege and one I hold in the highest regard. I want to thank Carla Williams, President Jim Ryan and this outstanding university for the support and willingness to believe in our vision for Virginia football. Most importantly, I want to thank the players for their commitment to the standards we have placed on them and to our football alumni for their support.
Virginia very easily could have had a 10-win season last year if a couple coin flips had gone the other way. SB Nation’s Bill Connelly lauds the Hoos’ consistent improvement and seasoned defense, saying that the “window of opportunity is open” for Virginia.
Mendenhall’s fourth campaign at Virginia kicks off on Saturday, August 31 at Pitt in prime time at 7:30 p.m. ET.