The worst-kept secret in college basketball is now completely out of the bag.
Kevin Willard is bolting Maryland to become the Villanova head coach after an ugly saga in which the 49-year-old openly griped about aspects of the program during the team’s March Madness run.
The Terrapins, a No. 4 seed, were eliminated by No. 1 Florida in the Sweet 16 on Thursday, and Villanova announced the hiring of Willard on Sunday.
“I need to make fundamental changes to the program,” Willard said at the start of the NCAA Tournament. “That’s what I’m focused on right now. That’s why probably a deal hasn’t got done [to stay with the program] because I want to see, I need to see fundamental changes done. I want this program to be great. I want it to be the best in the country, I want to win a national championship, but there’s things that need to change.”
Willard mentioned NIL revenue share being a “first and foremost” problem, but also took issue with the school’s budget for travel.
“I also have to make a fundamental change where I can do the things that I want to do with my program,” Willard said. “I wanted to spend an extra night in New York this year to celebrate Christmas with my team and I was told that we can’t do that because it’s too expensive. So, I don’t know how we can be a top-tier program and I can’t spend one extra night in New York because it’s too expensive.”
He also revealed that Maryland’s athletics director, Damon Evans, was leaving the university for the same job at SMU.
Willard, who led Seton Hall to five NCAA Tournament appearances during his 12-year run leading the program, joined Maryland three years ago.
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Maryland was offering Willard a raise that would’ve given him roughly $6 million a year, according to CBS Sports.
That apparently wasn’t enough to keep him in College Park, and “influential Maryland people” were frustrated in recent days by Willard being “non-responsive,” CBS Sports reported.
The Long Island native replaces Kyle Neptune, the ex-Fordham coach who was fired after three seasons.
Villanova hasn’t made the NCAA Tournament since Jay Wright left three years ago after a Final Four run.
They were national champions in 2016 and ’18.
