Former Virginia men’s basketball coach Terry Holland died Sunday at the age of 80, the school announced Monday. Holland is remembered for coaching the Cavaliers for 16 seasons, leading Virginia to two Final Four appearances and signing Ralph Sampson, who would go on to become one of the greatest players in program history.
Holland finished his Virginia tenure with a then-program record 326 wins, a mark that wouldn’t be surpassed until 2023 by Tony Bennett. The school’s 30-win season under Holland in 1981-82 was the first in Virginia history and wouldn’t be replicated until 2013-14.
The school’s run of success from 1979 to 1983 featured 124 wins, an NIT tournament win and a run to the Final Four in 1980-81. That era was spearheaded by the play of Sampson, a 7-foot-4 superstar who was a heavily sought-after recruit. In his four seasons, Sampson won three Naismith Awards and two Wooden Awards.