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JUNE 2022 25 She and her husband, Billy Hamilton, have a son, Eze. The family relocated to Charlottes- ville soon after Agugua-Hamilton was hired, and she's been in perpetual motion since then, working out UVA's returning players, adding recruits and assembling a staff. "It's just been a whirlwind," Agugua-Ham- ilton said. "A good whirlwind, but it's been pretty busy." On the day her hiring became official, Agugua-Hamilton received a phone call from Ryan, and they talked about the UVA program and its potential. "She did great things here," Agugua-Ham- ilton said, "and we're just trying to bring the program back to that standard." Agugua-Hamilton also has heard from many former UVA greats, including Wendy Palmer-Daniel (with whom she worked at VCU), Dawn Staley, Tammi Reiss, Monica Wright and Jocelyn Willoughby. "I'm excited to be part of that sisterhood," Agugua-Hamilton said. "It's a very strong sisterhood here, and I want to make sure we bring people back together. In recent years, I just feel like they might have [grown apart] a little bit, but I told them when we did the alumnae Zoom that I want to bring them home, and I want them to be a big part of our success." Her assistant coaches at Missouri State — CJ Jones, Alysiah Bond and Tori Jankoska — followed Agugua-Hamilton to UVA, and so did strength and conditioning coach Chris Toland. "I love my staff," Agugua-Hamilton said. "I think they bring tremendous experience, and they're definitely going to be a big part of our success." At JPJ, the Cavaliers' coaches worked out the returning players, a group that includes a trio of guards — graduate student McKenna Dale, third-year Mir McLean and fourth-year Taylor Valladay — for the rest of the spring semester. "I've already seen positive strides," Agugua-Hamilton said. "They're hungry. They want it. They're talented. I was actu- ally shocked to see how much talent we do have. So, I think it's our job just to mold them into the players that we know they can be, and they've just been receptive to that." Dale was among the UVA players at JPJ for Agugua-Hamilton's first press conference. "Last season was difficult," Dale said. "No team likes to lose, but I think we're really just looking forward to a new season and a new coach and a new culture." After graduating from Oakton High, where she starred in basketball, Agugua-Hamilton joined the team at Hofstra University on Long Island, N.Y. Injuries marred her playing career, but when healthy she was the pro- verbial coach on the floor. "She was my twin," said Syracuse's new head coach, Felisha Legette-Jack, for whom Agugua-Hamilton played at Hofstra. Agugua-Hamilton has a bachelor's degree in business management from Hofstra. After three seasons on the coaching staff at VCU, the first as a graduate assistant, she spent two years with Legette-Jack at Indiana. "She's the most organized person you're ever going to meet," Legette-Jack said. "She's an engaging person, she's a passionate per- son, but not to a point you get overwhelmed by that passion that you want to back away." At Missouri State, Agugua-Hamilton's standouts included guard Brice Calip, a three-time All-Missouri Valley Conference selection. "I just have all the confidence in the world, all the love for her, and just wish nothing but the best for her, because that's what she did for me," Calip said. "I never would have been the player that I am today without her." Agugua-Hamilton uses an acronym — FAB — to describe her coaching philosophy. It stands for family, academics, basketball. Building a family atmosphere will require some work, Agugua-Hamilton said. "It's not going to be something we say, it's going to be who we are. You'll be accountable to the person on your right and your left and will understand that you are part of something that's bigger than yourself. "I take the relationship-building piece very seriously. I invest in people. I'm tough when I need to be, but I love always." " The tradition here for many, many years was to pursue championships and to put up banners in the stands. We will get back to that. Player development will be key. Recruiting will be essential. We need to rejuvenate this community. Bringing back alums, getting butts in those seats, all that will help the process. " AGUGUA-HAMILTON Although she's spent most of her career in the Midwest, Agugua-Hamilton is originally from Herndon, Va., and has coached at Virginia Commonwealth and Old Dominion. (Photo by Matt Riley/courtesy UVA)