Maryland coaching search: Pete Thamel offers update on how Terrapins will replace Kevin Willard

ESPN’s Pete Thamel provided the latest in the Maryland basketball coaching search after the departure of Kevin Willard. It seems, despite being late in the process, Maryland could have interesting options after Willard left for Villanova.

Maryland could wait it out to poach a Final Four coach, so to speak. Or, the Terps can go the established route as well, getting a coach at another Power Four institution that’s been linked to the opening.

Thamel said Maryland could move quickly since they have money. However, it’s a matter of which direction they’ll go.

“They’re a little bit like a country music song right now, they lost a coach, they lost their AD, and they’re going to be out searching in a drier market because they’re coming in late in the cycle,” Thamel said on College GameDay. “There’s really two paths they can take. They can mobilize some of that, some of that Big Ten and Under Armour money and go try to get a Final Four coach. You see Porter Moser there (on your screen), you see Buzz Williams, those have been two guys who believe to be gettable in this cycle.”

Thamel also noted it could be a more balanced approach in terms of who’s going to be the next head coach. You could go younger and spread the money out in NIL, if you’re Maryland.

“The other thing they can do is go local,” Thamel said. “Obviously, Tony Skinn has had a great run at George Mason and has deep ties there, and Duane Simpkins is a great former player who’s been at Maryland and shown promise as a young coach at American. 

“The thought of going with someone like Skinn or Simpkins is you could get the deal done quick, and you could mobilize some of that money for players, which, as we move forward in this era of college basketball, becomes a priority.”

Prior to Thamel reporting Willard to Villanova, he mentioned a domino effect for Maryland should Willard leave. Well, the time is now.

“For Villanova, it’s pretty simple Rece,” Thamel said. “Kevin Willard was a successful coach at Seton Hall, which is one of the worst Big East jobs. He had seven straight winning seasons in league play, to include his time at Seton Hall. He’s led teams to seven different NCAA tournaments. He’s an accomplished guy. He fits in the Northeast Corridor. If Kevin Willard decides to stay at Maryland, and again, he mentioned that he does not have an athletic director that he knows, the next candidate up is believed to be Porter Moser of Oklahoma. 

“It’s an interesting name, because he would likely be on Maryland’s list if they have a job search. Maryland has not stayed flat footed. They have started to prepare for Kevin Willard’s departure. They’re hoping to keep him and we will know in the near future, where he decides.”