On the same day that Virginia announced the hiring of men's basketball assistant Gene Cross, new head coach Dave Leitao interviewed former Cavaliers player Jason Williford for one of the spots on his staff.

Boston University head coach Dennis Wolff said Leitao had called to ask permission to speak to Williford, a Terriers' assistant who played for UVa from 1990-94. Two Division I head coaches said Leitao has targeted ousted Siena head coach Rob Lanier for one of the three full-time assistant's positions on his staff.

Lanier, 36, was an assistant at Texas, Rutgers and St. Bonaventure before getting the job at Siena, where his first team reached the second round of the 2002 NCAA tournament before losing to eventual champion Maryland.

Cross, 33, has been recruiting for Virginia since last weekend.

- Doug Doughty