Kevin Willard is reportedly set to leave Maryland for Villanova, according to sources who spoke with FOX Sports early Sunday morning.
Willard departs College Park after achieving a record of 65 wins and 38 losses over the past three seasons. This includes two NCAA Tournament appearances and leading the Terrapins to their first Sweet 16 since 2016, despite a recent loss to top-seeded Florida, 87-71, on Thursday.
Prior to his time at Maryland, Willard spent 12 successful years in the Big East coaching at Seton Hall. During his tenure, he guided the Pirates to five NCAA Tournament bids in six seasons before making the move to College Park.
Now, Willard is set to take the reins at Villanova, where he aims to restore the program to its former glory, reminiscent of the success achieved by his predecessor, Jay Wright, before Kyle Neptune’s appointment in 2022.
Despite his accomplishments, Willard’s relationship with the Maryland athletic department has soured in recent weeks. The 49-year-old coach expressed his frustrations with university officials, particularly after the departure of athletic director Damon Evans to SMU left the Terrapins in a state of uncertainty, with interim AD Colleen Sorem stepping in.
Tensions escalated between Willard and Sorem, especially following a December incident where Sorem denied the team an extra night in New York City during the holiday season.
“Losing the athletic director has been a little hard, to be honest,” Willard stated during a radio interview on the “Kevin Sheehan Show.” He added, “I wasn’t expecting Damon to leave for SMU. But I’ve been working with [Maryland Deputy Athletic Director/Chief Strategy Officer] Brian Ullman and everyone in the department, and they’ve been great.”
Willard emphasized his desire for clarity and support, saying, “I don’t want monumental things. I just want this program to be the best it can be. I don’t want someone telling me we’re going to do it—I want it in my contract. I don’t want people making decisions about my program who aren’t involved in my program. Those are big ones for me.” He expressed a commitment to elevating the program, which he believes has not received the attention it deserves for some time.
Although Maryland was reportedly preparing a lucrative financial package to make Willard one of the highest-paid coaches in the nation, the decision to leave was ultimately a family choice. Willard aims to return to his roots in New Jersey while taking on a leadership role at Villanova, a program he respects deeply from his Big East days.
