Virginia head coach Tony Elliott joins Next Up with Adam Breneman to talk culture, NIL (name, image, and likeness), and what it really takes to get UVA to Charlotte. Elliott explains why he chose Virginia—elite academics, true alignment with AD Carla Williams and university leadership, and a faith-driven belief that he could build a program the right way. He details the foundation work most people don’t see: tiny standards (yes, flushing the toilets) that create accountability and peer leadership in the locker room.
They also get into the transfer portal calculus and how NIL realities changed his roster math. This offseason alone, UVA welcomed 54 newcomers (32 transfers, 22 high school) while still prioritizing academic and social fit in small classes with no “easy track.” Elliott shares how NIL has been a net positive by putting players in the community and relieving pressure at home, and why he keeps the program relationship-driven while the front office manages the transactional pieces.
