Lars Tiffany expects to return as the college lacrosse coach at the University of Virginia for the 2027 season. And, according to a new report, the deal is already done.
However, as of this writing, the university has yet to make an official announcement either way.
This uncertainty only exists because of a disappointing end to the college lacrosse season for the Hoos. It would be pretty shocking if Tiffany was forced out but the rumors continue to swirl.
Who is Lars Tiffany?
Tiffany, 57, played defense at Brown from 1986-1990. He got his first head coaching opportunity at Stony Brook in 2005 and spent 10 years at his alma mater from 2007-2016. The Bears won three Ivy League championships during his tenure. Their head coach was twice named as the conference coach of the year.
Virginia hired Lars Tiffany in 2017. It immediately proved to be a great decision.
The Cavaliers finished No. 1 in the ACC and No. 3 in the nation in goals per games, assists per game and points per game during his first season. They won the ACC Championship and a national championship in 2019. They won a second national title in 2021 after the pandemic canceled the entire season in 2020. Tiffany won two rings in “back-to-back” seasons.
His accolades do not stop there!
- Coached Tewaaraton Award winner Dylan Molloy in 2016 (Heisman Trophy of lacrosse)
- 2X ACC Coach of the Year
- 18 PLL draft picks
- 29 All-ACC selections
- 18 PLL draft picks
- 108 wins at UVA — No. 3 in program history
Virginia reached the Final Four in 2023 and 2024. It completely fell off in 2025 and missed the postseason all together at 6-8 overall and 0-4 in the conference. The end of 2026 was just as disappointing, if not even more so. It all came crashing down on Saturday.
The eighth-ranked Hoos got hot during the conference tournament. They upset top-ranked Notre Dame seed in the first round and took down fifth-ranked North Carolina to win the ACC.
Virginia was considered a legitimate national title contender. Or, at the very least, a Final Four team. Neither of those things happened. The Cavaliers got upset in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
No. 5-seed Virginia lost to Georgetown. It was a huge disappointment.
Will Virginia fire its college lacrosse coach?
Tiffany signed a contract extension in 2022 that ran through the 2026 season. He is currently without a deal for next season and beyond. His future with the program is uncertain.
There have been a lot of rumors over the last 48 hours that allude to an ouster— or, rather, a decision by the University of Virginia not to renew its college lacrosse coach’s contract.
The Cavaliers have not made an official statement either way. Meanwhile, Lars Tiffany told Mike Barber of Cville Right Now that he fully expects to return in 2027 and has not heard otherwise. In fact, he spent Tuesday in individual meetings, and with a returning team captain, to start planning for next season.
Tiffany’s agent also told Inside Lacrosse that there is “zero truth to any rumors as of now.” Conversations were ongoing. Not too long thereafter, former UVA goalie Jake Malasek reported that an extension (of unknown length) has been signed. The head coach will be back for 2027.
That extension has not been confirmed. The university remains silent as of this writing.
It would be shocking if Virginia decided to move on from its head coach. It would send shockwaves throughout the entire world of college lacrosse. Things are trending toward an extension. We’ll see.