Longtime Richmond men’s basketball coach Chris Mooney will miss the remainder of the season because of a heart issue.
The school announced Friday that Mooney, 50, will undergo surgery next week to remove an aneurysm in his ascending aorta. The procedure will be performed at the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville.
Assistant coach Peter Thomas will be the interim head coach while Mooney is away from the team, which could be as long as eight weeks.
“The University of Richmond and Spider Athletics are committed to doing everything possible to support Chris on his path to a full recovery,” athletic director John Hardt said in a news release. “Our main focus is ensuring that Chris has the time and space to prioritize his health and his family during this period. We look forward to having Chris back on campus leading Spider Basketball when he is fully recovered and ready to resume his duties.”
Mooney is in his 18th season as the head coach of the Spiders and is the winningest coach in school history. In June, he signed a three-year contract extension through the 2026-27 season.
Mooney coached Air Force for one season (2004-05) before taking over at Richmond, where he has compiled a 325-258 record.
His tenure is the third longest in Atlantic 10 history behind John Chaney (24 seasons at Temple) and Phil Martelli (24 at Saint Joseph’s). Under Mooney, the Spiders have two A-10 titles, three NCAA Tournament appearances and nine postseason appearances.
In the NCAA Tournament, the Spiders reached the Sweet 16 in 2011 and the second round in 2022.
The Spiders (13-14, 6-8) host Saint Louis on Tuesday.
–Field Level Media
