Maryland men’s basketball head coach Kevin Willard is leaving the Terps to join Villanova’s Wildcats.
On Sunday morning, Villanova announced that Willard will be the 10th head coach of its men’s basketball team. He succeeds Villanova coach Kyle Neptune.
The Maryland men’s basketball team earned a No. 4 seed in the NCAA tournament this year, and made it to the Sweet 16 on Thursday before losing to Florida.
This year, Willard led Maryland to 27 victories, a Top 25 national ranking and the Sweet 16. He served as the university’s head coach for three seasons.
“Coach Willard quickly stood out among an impressive pool of candidates during a comprehensive national search,” said Villanova University President 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.”
In a statement, Maryland officials confirmed Willard’s decision to leave College Park, stating it took a “very proactive and aggressive approach” to retain him, including offering “a significant contract extension and salary increase, new staff, and one of the highest revenue-share budgets in the B1G Conference.”
“We had long and thoughtful conversations about the program and shared the same vision for Maryland Basketball,” the statement read. “In the end, he made the choice that he felt was best for him and his family. On behalf of all of Terrapin Nation, we thank Coach Willard and his family for their service and wish them well.”
Willard had been linked to the Villanova job throughout the NCAA Tournament. He had expressed concerns with the direction of Maryland’s program on the eve of the Terps’ opening game in the tournament.
“My biggest concerns in life right now: I don’t know who my boss is going to be,” Willard said 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.”
He had not signed an extension before the tournament, a matter complicated when then Maryland athletic director Damon Evans left the program for the same job at Southern Methodist University.
In its statement, the university announced it has begun a national search for Maryland’s new head coach. No timeline was given on when a hire would be announced.
Willard, who turns 50 on April 6, led Maryland to a 65-39 overall record in three seasons, with two March Madness appearances in three seasons. Before coaching at Maryland, Willard was at Seton Hall for 12 seasons. This year with Maryland was Willard’s seventh NCAA Tournament berth overall after getting there five times with Seton Hall, and his first time in the Sweet 16.
The Associated Press and WTOP’s Valerie Bonk and José Umaña contributed to this report.
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