Lars Tiffany files legal action against University of Virginia seeking compensation.

Former UVA lacrosse coach Lars Tiffany has taken legal action against the University of Virginia, filing a declaratory judgment action against the university. The action states that a contract extension offer letter signed by Tiffany in March was in fact valid, and as a result, the university owes him compensation totaling over $1.4 million after his termination last May.

Tiffany’s tenure as head coach at UVA ended last May after ten years, a time in which he won two national championships and reached the final four two other times. His original contract in 2016 was for five years, and that deal was extended in 2021. In summer 2025, UVA offered Tiffany a three year extension that would keep him on as head coach through 2029. UVA sent Tiffany an offer sheet containing terms and compensation. There were some questions with the university about the possibility of adding additional years to the extension, but ultimately Tiffany accepted and signed the three year offer sheet and sent it back to the university. The signing of the offer sheet in 2025 was the same process used to extend Tiffany in 2021. The suit from Tiffany alleges that Deputy Athletics Director Steve Pritzker reached out to Tiffany's agent at this time to say a mistake had been made, and asked that Tiffany rescind his acceptance of the offer letter after he signed it, which Tiffany did not do. The suit alleges that Pritzker had been asked by Athletic Director Carla Williams to see how the year ended before doing anything with Tiffany's extension. Tiffany signing his three year offer sheet had, according to the suit, put Pritzker, "in a tough spot". Nevertheless, in late May, Tiffany was informed by Williams that his contract would not be renewed, and his tenure as UVA head coach was over. The three year offer sheet Tiffany had signed was not part of that conversation.

The university’s position is that the discussion of possibly adding a fourth year that occurred when the three year offer was first received amounted to a counter offer, and that counter offer meant the original three year offer sheet was no longer valid. That would mean that although Tiffany signed and returned the offer sheet, it was not valid, and it does not need to be honored. The position of Tiffany’s suit is that his signed offer sheet was still valid, there was no counter offer made. Asking questions about the possibility of a 4th year was not in fact a demand for another year, and thus is not a counter offer. The offer sheet was never rescinded or voided, Tiffany signed it and never rescinded the acceptance of the offer. While UVA can still terminate Tiffany, the school would still owe him the compensation outlined in the offer sheet in that situation.

UVA has since hired Kevin Cassese, Tiffany’s top assistant, as the new head coach of the men’s lacrosse program. 

Update: the below is a statement from Lars Tiffany

Statement from Lars Tiffany 

My family and I are deeply saddened to be leaving the University of Virginia and the men’s  lacrosse program that we love so dearly. 

Working at UVA never felt like a job; it was a privilege and a gift. The relationships we have  built with our student-athletes, alumni, supporters, and the Charlottesville community will  remain among the most meaningful experiences of our lives. 

Earlier this year, I signed a three-year contract extension with the University. Unfortunately,  the University has now informed us that it does not intend to honor that agreement. 

We made every effort to resolve this matter privately and amicably. Litigation was never our  goal. Unfortunately, after being advised that the University was preparing to seek  declaratory relief regarding the contract, my family and I were left with no meaningful  alternative but to protect our rights through the legal process. 

It is with a heavy heart that we find ourselves in this position. Going to court is the last thing  we wanted. We had hoped to conclude this chapter with gratitude, respect, and mutual  appreciation for everything we accomplished together. 

However, I have an obligation to my family and to the commitments that were made. While  we are disappointed that this dispute could not be resolved without litigation, we remain  proud of what we built at Virginia and grateful for the players, families, alumni, and  supporters who made this journey so special.