UVa not extending Groh’s contract

CHARLOTTESVILLE — For the second time in three years, the University of Virginia has declined to extend the contract of football coach Al Groh.

Craig Littlepage issued a statement Sunday night in which the Cavaliers’ athletic director said he has informed Groh “that his contract will not be extended for an additional year.”

Littlepage also said he’ll meet with Groh “in the next 48 hours to conduct a year-end review of the football program. I will have no further comment about Coach Groh’s contract or the review process of the program.”

Groh, whose eighth season as Virginia’s coach ended Saturday with a 17-14 loss to Virginia Tech, has three years left on a contract that pays him about $2 million annually.

UVa finished 5-7 for the second time in three years. As the Wahoos’ coach, Groh is 1-7 against the Hokies. His overall record as coach at his alma mater is 56-44.

At the end of each season, UVa has the option of adding a year to Groh’s contract to keep its length the same. In December 2006, after Virginia went 5-7, the university elected not to do so, which left Groh with four years on his contract.

Last December, after guiding UVa to nine regular-season victories, Groh was awarded another year, which extended his deal through Dec. 31, 2011.

Littlepage told The Richmond Times-Dispatch on Nov. 9 that Groh would be back as UVa’s coach in 2009, even if the team lost its final four regular-season games, which is what happened. To fire Groh, 64, before next season would cost the school about $6 million.

Groh typically holds a teleconference with reporters the night after a UVa game. But he was out of the office recruiting Sunday and the the call was canceled.