Villanova set to hire Maryland's Kevin Willard

Villanova is set to hire Maryland head coach Kevin Willard, according to ESPN. The former Iona and Seton Hall head coach leaves the Terrapins after three seasons and returns to the Big East. Willard steps in for Kyle Neptune, who was fired after three seasons and did not make the NCAA Tournament.

Willard is fresh off a Sweet 16 run, Maryland’s first since 2016. He took the Terrapins to two NCAA tournaments in three seasons, winning more than 60 games and finishing with a 32-28 record in the Big Ten.

Willard put together his best team in 2024-25 at Maryland, landing five-star forward Derik Queen in the 2024 recruiting class. Queen hit the game-winning shot to knock out Colorado State and send Maryland to the Sweet 16.

Part of Williard’s decision to leave the Terrapins for Villanova factored into the financial commitment Maryland was ready to make. Maryland athletic director Damon Evans left for SMU in March, too.

“I need to make fundamental changes to the program,” Willard said as he explained why he hasn’t agreed to the new contract Maryland has offered. “That’s what I’m focused on right now. That’s why probably a deal hasn’t got done 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 takes over a Villanova program that has struggled since Jay Wright’s retirement. The Wildcats have not been back to the Big Dance since Wright’s Final Four trip in 2022. In three seasons under Neptune, Villanova was 54-47.

Under Wright, Villanova made the NCAA Tournament in 16 of his final 17 seasons, winning at least one tourney game in his final eight postseasons. The last time the Wildcats missed March Madness in three consecutive seasons was from 2002 to 2004, Wright’s first three seasons in charge.