The University of Virginia has named Mike London its new football coach.
London, 49, agreed to a five-year contract that will pay $1.7 million annually. He joins Virginia after spending the last two years as head coach at Richmond, and previously had two stints as an assistant coach with the Cavaliers.
"Words cannot express my gratitude and heartfelt emotions for this opportunity," London said. "To be the head football coach at as prestigious of an institution as the University of Virginia is a dream come true."
London compiled a 24-5 record in two years at Richmond in the Football Championship Subdivision [formerly Division I-AA]. The Spiders won the FCS title in his first season as they beat Montana in the championship game. London's Richmond team went 11-2 this season, losing to Appalachian State in the FCS quarterfinals on Saturday.
He will be charged with turning around a Cavaliers team that went 3-9 this year under Al Groh, who was fired a week ago and compiled a 59-53 record in nine years. The 2009 record was the program's worst since a 2-9 mark in 1982.
London, a Hampton, Virginia native, served as the Cavaliers' defensive line coach from 2001-04. After a brief stint as defensive line coach of the Houston Texans in the NFL, he returned to become the defensive coordinator at Virginia from 2006-07.
"We are pleased to welcome Mike London back to the university," said Virginia president John T. Casteen III. "Mike's personal values and commitment to excellence -- combined with his understanding of university culture and his proven ability to build a strong team -- will make the London era in Virginia football a good time, perhaps the best of times, for players, fans, and the university generally."
Virginia was 5-7 in 2008, giving the Cavaliers consecutive losing seasons for the first time since 1981 and '82.
