Villanova Adds Assistant Coach Ricky Harris

Villanova Men’s Basketball added a new member to their coaching staff on Thursday, April 17, with former Maryland Director of Player Personnel/Assistant Coach Ricky Harris joining the fold.

New Wildcats head coach Kevin Willard brought Harris to College Park ahead of the 2023-24 season, and now Harris follows Willard to the Main Line. Harris announced the move via Twitter (X), succinctly posting “#NewProfilePic” along with an updated picture of himself in Villanova gear. The Wildcats have yet to formally announce the move, so it’s unclear exactly how Harris will fit in under the new regime, whether in his previous role with the Terrapins or a new niche.

Harris played basketball at the collegiate and professional levels, a guard who spent four seasons at UMass Amherst — starting three of those years — and averaging 15.2 points. He then jumped across the pond, spending 11 professional seasons in European leagues that included Germany, Lithuania and Ukraine, as well as in Turkey and Argentina.

Following the conclusion of his playing career, Harris returned to Amherst, spending two years as the Minutemen’s Director of Operations. Harris joins former Maryland assistants David Cox, Greg Manning and Kevin Norris Jr. in following Willard to Villanova. The Wildcats parted ways with assistants Mike Nardi (who served as interim head coach after Kyle Neptune’s firing) Dwayne Anderson II and Jamie Young after agreeing to terms with Willard.

As of right now, the only Villanova assistant Willard retained from the previous regime is Ashley Howard, a seven season coaching veteran with the Wildcats across two separate stints.