CHARLOTTESVILLE - Seven years after introducing its last men's basketball coach amid a flurry of one-liners and wisecracks, Virginia took more than a 180-degree turn Sunday and not just in its move across UVa's "grounds."

Whereas previous introductions had been held at aging University Hall, Dave Leitao met the media at Bryant Hall, the stylish office complex that adjoins UVa's football stadium. It was the same setting in which athletic director Craig Littlepage had been introduced four years earlier, and the similarities were unmistakable as the two men entered the gathering from a side door.

First of all, they're tall, both in the 6-foot-7 range. In a sense, both are also pioneers, Littlepage as the first black athletic director in ACC history and Leitao as the first black head coach of any sport at Virginia.

"I think it's a great honor that this university has bestowed upon me," said Leitao, who was accompanied by his wife Joyce, three young sons and his older sister. "I feel extremely proud to coach the game of basketball as an African-American when some of the people have not had the chance who came before me.

"At the same point, I'm a basketball coach and for those who look at me as such, they'll see the same things as if my skin color were anything else."

Said Littlepage: "My goal was to hire the best coach, pure and simple."

Leitao, who compiled a 58-34 record in three seasons as the head coach at DePaul, flew into Charlottesville on Sunday morning and met with the eight returning players who later sat through his one-hour news conference.

"He said everything I wanted to hear," said point guard Sean Singletary, an ACC all-freshman selection this past season. "He said what everybody in town, every Virginia fan wanted to hear."

After a short introduction by Littlepage, Leitao, 44, referred to notes only briefly as he addressed a crowd that included president John Casteen and other university officials.

"For the 21 years I've been in coaching and the five years I was in college, I've always looked at the University of Virginia with great admiration, for a lot of the teams I've seen play but most importantly for its reputation," Leitao said. "To be linked to this great university at this time of my life and of my family's life is overwhelming.

"It will be a great honor not only to be the basketball coach but be a torchbearer for the future at such a critical time in this athletic department's history."

Virginia's new 15,000-seat coliseum, the John Paul Jones Arena, will open for basketball in the fall of 2006.

"Before I came on campus, I took the virtual tour [of the new arena] on line and I was awe-struck," Leitao said. "The first round of the NIT, we played at the University of Missouri. They have a new arena, as well. I took a walking tour after practice and was quite impressed.

"That was a $70-million building. For $130 million, I can only imagine the amenities and things [UVa's building] will have that will make it, the day it opens, the most special college basketball arena in America."

Former coach Pete Gillen, always quick with a quip, was mentioned only once. It was apparent that Gillen could not have returned after going 14-15 and failing to make the NCAA tournament for the fourth year in a row. He resigned March14.

"My vision is to take this basketball program and put it on a championship level on and off the court," Leitao said. "I can tell you, when next we play a basketball game, these guys will play and fight like never before. Every coach in basketball wants his team to play harder. We're going to play harder.

"It doesn't matter how fast you run or how well you shoot or how high you jump. Anybody can play defense."

UVa sophomore Gary Forbes said the mention of Leitao as a UVa target prompted him to call three fellow New Yorkers who played for Leitao at DePaul, including top underclassmen Sammy Mejia.

"They told me what a great guy he was," Forbes said, "a family guy."

Forbes said the thought of transferring had crossed his mind and speculated that teammates probably had similar ideas. Everybody was safely in the fold by Sunday afternoon.

"I've got my apartment for next year and I'm signed up for all my courses," Forbes said. "Why would I be going anywhere?"

Leitao said he hoped to have a staff in place by the end of the week, and Littlepage indicated that he and Leitao felt that a link to the Cavaliers' past would be desirable. Boston University assistant and former UVa player Jason Williford is a possible target.

Leitao hopes to start recruiting by next weekend, which means that any lingering business in Chicago will have to wait.

"There are a tremendous amount of things to do, all of which come under the umbrella of Virginia," said Leitao, citing a need to get to know the players, put together a staff, be seen on the recruiting circuit and meet key campus figures. "I'm the coach at Virginia now and that's where 100 percent of my priorities lie."