 On December 4, 2015, Mendenhall was named the head coach of the Virginia Cavaliers, after Mike London resigned on November 29, 2015.Mendenhall had previously turned down the head coaching job at UCLA several years prior to accepting the one at Virginia.The hire gained attention across the sports spectrum, as Boston Celtics president and BYU alumnus Danny Ainge voiced his congratulations to both Mendenhall and UVA on the hire.