Villanova University hires Maryland's Kevin Willard as men's basketball coach
Just days after the University of Maryland lost to Florida in the NCAA tournament, Villanova University announced Terrapins' head coach Kevin Willard is set to lead the school's men's basketball team.
Willard, who went 27-9 with Maryland this season and 14-6 in the Big Ten Conference, will replace Kyle Neptune, who was fired by Villanova earlier this month.
Willard had been linked to the Villanova job throughout March Madness, where the Terrapins earned a No. 4 seed and reached the Sweet 16 before losing to the Gators.
"Coach Willard quickly stood out among an impressive pool of candidates during a comprehensive national search," Villanova's president, the Rev. Peter M. Donohue, said in a statement. "Throughout the process, Coach Willard demonstrated that he has the vision and experience to guide Villanova Basketball in the changing world of college athletics. Beyond his notable success on the court, we were also impressed by his ability to articulate how Villanova Basketball fits into the overarching mission of the University."
Willard expressed concerns with the direction of Maryland's program on the eve of the Terps' opening game in the NCAA Tournament. He had not signed an extension before the tournament, a matter complicated when Maryland athletic director, Damon Evans, bolted the program for the same job at SMU.
"My biggest concerns in life right now: I don't know who my boss is going to be," Willard said last week when asked if there was something Maryland could do to keep him. "The guy that brought me here who I really like and am appreciative of him bringing me to College Park is not here anymore, and I don't know who we're going to hire. And in today's day and age, that worries me a little bit. I'm just being honest."
Willard said Evans gave him a "term sheet" last Sunday, but he didn't sign it because his focus was on the team. Willard had called out Maryland for a lack of support for the basketball program. Among the changes he wanted to see was with Maryland's plan for revenue sharing with athletes. He said a majority was expected to go to the football team.
That won't be a problem at Villanova, where the Big East school does not field a Division I football team.
Villanova fired Neptune earlier this month after a three-year run in which he succeeded Hall of Fame coach Jay Wright and failed to make the NCAA Tournament. Wright, who was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021, guided Villanova to titles in 2016 and 2018 and led the Wildcats to two other Final Four appearances before his 2022 retirement.
Neptune went 54-47 overall and 31-29 in the Big East in three seasons with the Wildcats, including a 19-14 record this season.
"Villanova Basketball has a deep tradition of excellence and a culture that is second to none in college basketball," Willard said in a statement. "We are thrilled to be a part of it and join the Villanova community."
The Wildcats will play in the new College Basketball Crown tournament later this week in Las Vegas under interim coach Mike Nardi.
Willard, who turns 50 on April 6, led Maryland to a 65-39 overall record in three seasons at the school, with two March Madness appearances in three seasons. This was his seventh NCAA Tournament berth overall after getting there five times with Seton Hall, and his first time in the Sweet 16.
Villanova students react to Kevin Willard hire
Villanova students were excited about the Willard hire, saying it could be exactly what the program needs.
"I really expected us to be in the tournament," said Nathan Mathur, who grew up a fan of the Wildcats and covers the team as a student sports reporter for the school's TV and radio station.
Mathur called the last three seasons a huge disappointment for a program that was once a mainstay in the NCAA Tournament. He believes Willard has what it takes to turn the team around.
"We're talking about a guy at Seton Hall who made five NCAA tournaments and would've been a sixth in 2020 if it wasn't for COVID," Mathur said. "Won the Big East Tournament and he has a regular season champion for them. I think that is a guy that we need in this program who has proven success in this conference and obviously at Maryland. He's been a great recruiter as well, getting Derik Queen, who we are going to see go to the league as a top 20 pick in a couple of months. This is a hire I am elated about."
Other students said they're optimistic Willard can bring March Madness back to campus.
"I think his coaching ability is good," Luke Brocious said. "He has a good style."
"I think he'll get the team going in the right direction," Nolan Clayton said.
