Virginia reportedly is close to hiring Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliott as its new head football coach.
Elliott, 42, met with athletic director Carla Williams in Charlottesville on Wednesday, according to ESPN.
He would replace Bronco Mendenhall, who resigned suddenly on Dec. 2 after six years leading the Cavaliers.
Elliott, who met earlier this week with Duke officials about the Blue Devils’ coaching vacancy, has been on the staff at his alma mater Clemson since 2011. He became head coach Dabo Swinney’s co-offensive coordinator in 2015 and has been the Tigers’ OC since 2020. Clemson added associate head coach to his title in 2021.
Elliott received the Broyles Award in 2017 as the nation’s top assistant coach and helped Clemson win a couple of national championships (2016, 2018).
Former UVA All-American safety Anthony Poindexter, the co-defensive coordinator at Penn State, withdrew his name from consideration for the Cavaliers’ coaching job on Wednesday.
Mendenhall will step down following the Cavaliers’ appearance Dec. 29 at the Fenway Bowl, where they will meet SMU.
Virginia went 6-6 this season (4-4 ACC) and 36-38 under his direction.
–Field Level Media