Earlier this month, Silver Waves Media named the University of Virginia’s Carla Williams as one of its 70 top athletic directors in the country who are “leading the way through exceptional leadership, vision and a dedication to elevating the student-athlete experience.”
Williams, who joined Virginia athletics in the fall of 2017, has led a transformative period for the University and the NCAA. But she’s more than her resume. Whether it’s a women’s volleyball match in Mem Gym or a sunny day at Scott Stadium – she can be spotted intently watching every period of nearly every game. Her success is undoubtedly built on a commitment to players and staff.
Let’s take a look back at some of Virginia’s biggest wins and milestones over her nine-year tenure.
Virginia is for champions
Since October 2017, Virginia has brought home 13 national championship titles across four sports – men’s basketball (2019), men’s lacrosse (2019, 2021), men’s tennis (2017, 2022, 2023, 2026), and women’s swimming and diving (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026).
Of course, UVA wins big at the conference level, too, with 14 men’s ACC championships and 15 women’s ACC championships in nine years. The athletic department has found holistic success, building up revenue and olympic sports to reach their highest potential.
Major gifts and major projects
In September 2018, the athletics department announced the Virginia Athletics Master Plan, dedicated to improving and modernizing athletic facilities and operations. While many recall the demolition of U Hall in 2019, some may not realize the project development since then.
That same year, the Master Plan received multiple million-dollar donations (including a $4 million and $6 million gift) from board members and friends of the University, not to mention a $500,000 contribution from former head basketball coach Tony Bennett, who believed in the endeavor to better support student development, health, and success.
As a part of the Master Plan, the University unveiled its first ever football operations and olympic sports centers, two natural grass practice fields, as well as Mem Gym renovations.
Most recently, Virginia received a $5 million donation from Dr. Scott Wagner and Kristin Norman, which will support Virginia football, men’s basketball, and scholarships across women’s sports programs. While transformative, it isn’t the only gift of its size.
In 2024, alum and Reddit founder Alex Ohanian famously gifted the University its second-largest donation to women’s athletics – primarily supporting the women’s basketball program. And in 2025, the football program brought in four major gifts – some from anonymous donors for undisclosed amounts (“multi-million” in two instances).
Successful student-athletes
Virginia’s student-athletes have displayed incredible academic performance over the past nine years. From 2017 to 2026, Virginia has had hundreds (734, to be exact) athletes named All-ACC Academic. And, in that same period, 32 ‘Hoos earned ACC Scholar-Athletes of the Year.
Plus, graduation rates have continued to thrive. In November, the University released the annual Graduation Success Rate data for students who entered their first year between 2015 and 2019. The report illustrates a graduation rate of 96%, matching the University’s highest rate for the third consecutive year. So, this means that during Williams’ term, student-athletes are graduating at an equally successful rate as they were immediately prior to her joining.
All that to say: UVA athletes are successful in the classroom. Always have been. Always will be.
Strategic coaching hires
Virginia has had some remarkable coaches come and go. Even with some turnover, the department has leveraged coaching legends, past and present, to recruit highly sought after professionals.
Although the hiring of women’s swim and dive coach Todd DeSorbo pre-dates her tenure, Williams’ ability to retain his talent during monumental program and personal success is a win for University athletics.
And while Williams’ tenure saw the loss of high caliber coaches, Tony Bennett most notably left the profession altogether, citing career and personal concerns, not a better professional alternative. The biggest real loss under her tenure is probably Lars Tiffany, who parted ways with Virginia Lacrosse after a decade and two national championships.
The University’s ability to land and retain such coaches for as long as they did was a success in itself – raising the its athletic attractiveness and maintaining program prestige for prospective coaches. Williams has led competitive national searches – ultimately landing coaches like Ryan Odom and Chris Pollard.
And while Tony Elliott has traveled the peaks and valleys with Virginia football, hiring the former offensive coordinator from Clemson was not only a statement but has, over time, produced success, with the program reaching its first 11-win season ever in 2025.
The coaching storyline hasn’t been all sunshine and roses – but under Williams’ leadership, the department has been strategic, thoughtful, and adaptive.
Managing NIL and transfer portal
Since NIL became a legal part of the NCAA in 2021, the landscape of college sports and what it takes to achieve success has changed rapidly.
In 2026, Virginia football ranked 29th in the nation according to On3’s adjusted portal ranking, and 5th in the ACC. Not to mention, the hugely successful 2025 transfer class, which brought in veteran players like Chandler Morris, J’Mari Tayor, and Monroe Mills.
Meanwhile, Virginia basketball didn’t lose a single player to the transfer portal in 2026, remarkable retention for this era. While, even under Bennett, Virginia basketball was known for its low player turnover, with Odom at the helm, he seems to be combining focuses on retention and program development with strategic portal recruits – using both as tools for roster success.
