Villanova is ready to rent Maryland’s Kevin Willard as its subsequent head coach, sources advised FOX Sports activities early Sunday morning.
Willard is departing School Park after going 65-38 over the past three seasons with two NCAA Match journeys and taking the Terrapins to this system’s first Candy 16 since 2016. Maryland fell to No. 1-seeded Florida, 87-71, on Thursday.
Earlier than arriving at Maryland in 2022, Willard spent 12 years teaching within the Huge East at Seton Corridor, the place he charged the Pirates to 5 NCAA Tournaments in six seasons earlier than departing for School Park.
Now, Willard will head to the Foremost Line to attempt to recreate what a former rival of his, Jay Wright, had rolling at Villanova earlier than Kyle Neptune took over in 2022.
Willard, who has Northeast roots, had change into disconnected with the Maryland athletic division in latest weeks. The 49-year-old head coach lately voiced frustrations with Maryland higher-ups, and after athletic director Damon Evans left to take the identical job at SMU final week, the Terrapins’ athletic division has been left in a state of chaos as interim AD Colleen Sorem took over.
Willard’s relationship with Sorem had soured in latest months, in accordance with sources, notably throughout an change in December when Sorem wouldn’t permit the staff to remain in New York Metropolis for an additional evening throughout the vacation season.
“Shedding the athletic director has been somewhat exhausting, to be sincere,” Willard stated in a radio interview on the “Kevin Sheehan Present” on Wednesday. “I wasn’t anticipating Damon to go away for SMU. However I have been working with [Maryland Deputy Athletic Director/Chief Strategy Officer] Brian Ullman and everybody within the division, they usually’ve been nice.
“I do not need monumental issues. I simply need this program to be the perfect it may be,” Willard added. “I am not asking for that a lot. I do not need somebody telling me we will do it— I would like it in my contract. I do not need folks making choices about my program who aren’t concerned in my program. These are massive ones for me. I reside it, breathe it, daily. This fan base expects it, however this place hasn’t been handled that manner for a very long time. My aim is to get it there.”
Maryland had ready a monetary package deal to make Willard one of many 10 highest paid coaches in America, sources advised FOX Sports activities. However this transfer was a household resolution to be close to his earlier dwelling state of New Jersey and to be the king at a college he gained main respect for in his Huge East days – Villanova.
John Fanta is a nationwide school basketball broadcaster and author for FOX Sports activities. He covers the game in a wide range of capacities, from calling video games on FS1 to serving as lead host on the BIG EAST Digital Community to offering commentary on The Subject of 68 Media Community. Observe him at @John_Fanta.
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