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“He hit the ground sprinting,� Cavaliers athletic director Carla Williams said during Pollard’s introductory press conference on Wednesday at Disharoon Park.

Pollard’s top priority since then has centered on assembling a roster. He brought his entire on-field coaching staff with him from his previous job at Duke to UVa, he said, in part because he couldn’t imagine having to hire assistants and construct a roster simultaneously.

Pollard wanted coaches surrounding him who understand exactly what he expects.

“The roster-building process has been frenetic,� Pollard said. “It’s been about 18 hours a day, but it’s also been really productive. We’ve made great strides.�

He said Tuesday was one of the best days the new Cavaliers’ staff has had yet while recruiting.

Duke transfers in center fielder AJ Gracia, pitcher/outfielder Kyle Johnson, first baseman/outfielder Sam Harris, infielder Noah Murray, pitcher Henry Zatkowski and pitcher Max Stammel have already decided to follow Pollard to Charlottesville. Former Blue Devils commitments in middle infielders Will Huggins and RJ Holmes as well as pitchers Jayden Stroman and John Paone flipped their pledges to the Hoos.

“I had no preconceived notion that any one player from Duke would make the journey to UVa,� Pollard said. “I was excited about the opportunity — once guys went into the portal — to have conversations and sell them on what the opportunity at the University of Virginia is all about with the unique combination of a world-class university and then still playing baseball in the ACC. But the easy part is all these guys were in this incredible facility just a couple of months ago.�

This past season, Duke swept UVa at the Dish in March, and Gracia, Johnson, Zatkowski and Murray were all back on Wednesday to support Pollard as he made his opening remarks.

“They had hit in the [Ryan] Zimmerman facility and trained in the weight room [in March],� Pollard continued, “and so knowing that you have the unique, elite combination of academics and athletics, and this facility to train in to become the best version of yourself, it didn’t take a lot of arm-twisting.�

He’s also allocated time in recruiting UVa players from this past season, like veteran third baseman Luke Hanson, who on Wednesday said he’s going to stick with the Cavaliers for his senior campaign in 2026 and the start of the Pollard era.

Hanson was also in attendance for Pollard’s presser.

“It’s been a whirlwind in some ways,� Hanson said about the transition following former coach Brian O’Connor’s exit to Mississippi State up until meeting with Pollard, “but I’m thankful to have a great coach hired and I’ve talked to Coach Pollard and all the other [coaches] already. They seem great and I’ve only been around town for a few days, but we’re excited to have them in Charlottesville.�

Hanson said Pollard’s message was simple.

“‘Just continue on the culture,’� Hanson said, “and I want to help out in any way I can. And I know it’s a big transition and we have a lot of new guys coming in … but I’m excited for the future.�

Williams said Pollard has extensive resources at his disposal.

She said Virginia will fund 25 scholarships for baseball moving forward, “but he’ll have flexibility to go beyond that if he needs to.�

Said Pollard: “[Virginia is] positioned amongst the very best in the ACC, and I don’t know if I would’ve been comfortable taking the job if it hadn’t been.�

Williams said Pollard’s proven track record in recruiting similarly to how UVa has in the past with target territories stretching from the Northeast through the Mid-Atlantic and into the South plus in the transfer portal helped make him a fit for the gig as the new skipper of the Cavaliers.

Pollard and O’Connor had competitions for players during Pollard’s 13 years at Duke.

“That’s been part of the cool thing in reconnecting with some of these guys,� Pollard said. “Like [UVa pitchers] Tommy Roldan and Bryson Moore. I sat with Bryson and his mom and dad in my office [on Tuesday], and I said, ‘Man, you’re Duke people. I thought we were going to get you at Duke.’

“We recruited that dude hard, but we’ve run in the same circles for a long time and we’ve had some great recruiting battles over the years, so I think our staff is well-positioned to go out and identify the type of student athlete that is a great fit for this program and university.�

It doesn’t hurt that Pollard has a great feel for UVa, too.

A native of Amherst County and a fan of the Hoos while he grew up, Pollard said he admired former Cavaliers basketball coach Terry Holland and star Ralph Sampson.

Pollard acknowledged that Charlottesville is a dream destination in his coaching career, which featured other head-coaching stops at Division II Pfeiffer University and then Appalachian State ahead of going to Duke.

“This is awesome and I’m really humbled,� Pollard said. “I believe wholeheartedly in the power of vulnerability, and I believe in high-functioning team dynamics and that vulnerability is a superpower. And I’ll be real with you. I’ve had a huge range of emotions over the last 10 days and not to mention my fair share of butterflies. And I tell our guys, when you get those butterflies, you’re getting ready to do something special.�

Now, he must put together a squad capable of accomplishing what he wants to at UVa while trying to match the triumphs that UVa has conquered — seven College World Series appearances and a national title — before.