Villanova Head Coach Kevin Willard: a Contract Estimate

The Villanova Wildcats haven’t released contract details for new head coach Kevin Willard, nor have any reports trickled out. As the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) doesn’t apply to private universities like Villanova, the best guess as to Willard’s contract value will need to be just that: an estimate.

Prior to leaving Maryland, reports surfaced that Willard was working toward a contract extension with the Terrapins that would place him among the top ten highest paid coaches in the country. According to a March 13, 2025 report from USA Today, here are the current top ten per publically available data:

• $8,803,800: Bill Self, Kansas
• $8,000,000: John Calipari, Arkansas
• $7,775,000: Dan Hurley, UConn
• $6,196,879: Tom Izzo, Michigan State
• $6,100,000: Mick Cronin, UCLA
• $5,958,852: Bruce Pearl, Auburn
• $5,800,000: Rick Barnes, Tennessee
• $5,410,061: Scott Drew, Baylor
• $5,250,000: Tommy Lloyd, Arizona
• $5,018,045: Nate Oats, Alabama

Most of the unrounded dollar amounts stem from contract bonuses and incentives. Given that the language regarding Willard’s extension offer was “top ten” rather than “top five,” we can safely assume that his offer from Maryland ranged between $5-6 million rather than somewhere closer to the top of the list.

Reportedly, the dispute that led Willard to leave the Terrapins stemmed from their allocation of NIL dollars and revenue sharing rather than the actual value of his contract. Villanova, of course, has no qualms about devoting their coffers toward their flagship men’s basketball program.

Focus on winning aside, Kevin Willard seems like a pragmatist, so it’s likely his contract with Villanova would remain somewhere in that mid-seven figure range. His contract duration wasn’t announced either, but one could reasonably expect a five-year term to start.