Report: Pepperdine hiring UVA’s Griff Aldrich as coach

Pepperdine is finalizing a deal to hire Virginia associate head coach Griff Aldrich as the new head coach of the Waves, ESPN reported on Thursday.

Aldrich, 51, was the head coach at Longwood from 2018-25, compiling a 127-100 record and leading the Lancers to the NCAA Tournament in 2022 and 2024.

He returned to his alma mater Virginia in 2025-26, joining new coach Ryan Odom's staff and helping the Cavaliers compile a 30-6 season that ended with a second-round loss in the NCAA Tournament.

Aldrich replaces Ed Schilling, who was fired on March 9 after compiling a 22-45 record (8-28 West Coast Conference) in two seasons with the program in Malibu, Calif.