This is going to be a long response but this is a good summation of the situation, and tbh some of this info I didn't know until I read about it on our On3 site:
In 2011 Dawn's own former HC, Debbie Ryan, resigned as UVA's HC. The AD at that time was Craig Littlepage. While he did speak with Dawn about the vacancy, it was basically for optics only and she was never actually seriously considered for the position at all. Dawn said it "left a sour taste in my mouth" and it resulted in a breakdown of any relationship she had previously had with UVA. The AD that caused the rift retired in 2017 and Carla Williams, who remains in the position, was hired as AD. Williams and Dawn are close friends and Williams helped repair most of the damage that Littlepage caused in 2011. In 2018 the HC that Littlepage hired instead of Dawn, Coach Boyles, retired and Dawn was contacted about the position. Dawn did speak with UVA about the position but declined. It is believed that she did provide input as to who the new hire should be, however. UVA ended up hiring Tina Thompson and as we all know, she has now been terminated as HC. Of course it is almost a guaranteed certainty that AD Williams will contact Dawn about the vacancy and I'm relatively certain Dawn will agree to speak with them. It is doubtful that Dawn is interested in the position, however, and it is far more likely that she again provides input and perspective on possible replacements for Thompson. A name that is thought to be likely to emerge is former Gamecock assistant and former Mississippi State HC Nikki McCray-Pinson IF Nikki believes that returning to the coaching ranks is okay health-wise.
End of mini-novella. LOL.
