Villanova University has officially announced the hiring of Kevin Willard as its new head basketball coach, concluding over a week of speculation about the position.

“Coach Willard quickly stood out among an impressive pool of candidates during a comprehensive national search,” said Villanova’s president, the Rev. Peter M. Donohue. “Throughout the process, Coach Willard demonstrated that he has the vision and experience to guide Villanova Basketball in the changing world of college athletics.”

Willard’s Track Record at Maryland

Kevin Willard’s most recent experience as the head coach at the University of Maryland was marked by success as he led the Terrapins to a remarkable season. The team concluded with a record of 27-9, earning a 4-seed in the NCAA tournament and advancing to the Sweet 16 before being eliminated by top-seeded Florida. Under Willard, Maryland had a strong Big Ten performance, finishing the conference play with a 14-6 record after a stumbling start of 1-3.

During his three-season tenure in College Park, Willard compiled a record of 65-39 and secured two NCAA tournament appearances, enhancing the program’s reputation.

Addressing Challenges and Changes

Before Maryland’s NCAA tournament, Willard made headlines by commenting on potential changes needed within the program’s operations, which included issues related to NIL policies and resources for enhancing team experience.

“I need to make fundamental changes to the program,” Willard remarked. “I want to win a national championship, but there are things that need to change.” He emphasized the necessity for Maryland to improve its position in NIL and make operational enhancements.

A Return to the Big East

Willard’s new role at Villanova marks a return to the Big East Conference, where he has previous coaching experience from his 12 years as head coach at Seton Hall. During his time there, he secured five NCAA tournament berths and shared the Big East regular-season title in 2020. Following the retirement of Hall of Fame coach Jay Wright, Willard takes over from Kyle Neptune, who faced challenges leading Villanova to the NCAA tournament in his three seasons.

Anticipations for the Future

As Villanova prepares for the next basketball season with Willard at the helm, expectations are high for the revitalization of the program and its alignment with the university’s mission.

Willard, a native of Long Island, New York, previously served as the head coach for Iona and also held assistant coaching positions under notable coaches Rick Pitino at Louisville and the Boston Celtics.