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Terry Holland, who coached Virginia to its lone ACC men's basketball championship and later served as the Cavaliers' athletic director, has ended his 30-year association with the school.

Virginia announced Thursday that Holland will step down from his role as a special assistant to school president John Casteen, a position he has held since 2001.

Since then, Holland has been involved primarily in planning for UVa's new 15,000-seat basketball facility, John Paul Jones Arena, scheduled to open in 2006.

"Now is a good time for me to make a separation," Holland said by telephone from Victoria, British Columbia. "Everything was well underway. The arena stuff was fun while we were planning it and all, but it was slowing down a little bit and I needed something to keep me occupied a little bit more.

"I'm going to take a look at different opportunities. I think I've got one more move in me. I'm 62 and, if not, that's OK, too."

Holland compiled a 326-173 record as Virginia's coach between 1974-1990, twice leading the Cavaliers to Final Four appearances. He was 34 when his second UVa team won the ACC title in 1976.

Holland was in Victoria on Thursday for the 50th birthday of the star of the 1976 team, Seattle Supersonics president Wally Walker.

After retiring as UVa coach, Holland spent five years as the athletic director at his alma mater, Davidson, before returning to Virginia in that capacity.

In 1999, he was courted by the University of Minnesota and came close to accepting an offer to replace Clem Haskins as the Gophers' coach. He said at the time that his wife, Ann, had favored the move.

"During the course of the visit, there were times when I sat back and said, 'This would be fun,'" said Holland before removing his name from consideration. "Maybe I need this at this stage of my career to recharge my career [and] as a new challenge."

As athletic director, Holland was directly involved in the hiring of Al Groh, now entering his fourth year as the Cavaliers' football coach. When he was men's basketball coach, he hired Craig Littlepage - now AD - as an assistant.

"Terry has been more than mentor to me," Littlepage said. "Without a doubt, I owe much to Terry and his family. I came to UVa due to his decision to offer me a position on his coaching staff. Terry has influenced each subsequent step of my professional life."