Villanova Men's Basketball
Villanova Reaction: Wildcats Bring Kevin Willard to the Main Line
Villanova Men’s Basketball concluded their coaching search saga when they agreed to a contract with former Maryland head coach Kevin Willard in the early hours of Sunday, March 30.
The hiring — and especially Willard’s comments to the media in the days leading up to his exit — shook up the college basketball world, causing a wide range of reactions to the news… many of them less than positive. After two national championships in three years and a host of top seeds to the NCAA Tournament during their final decade under former head coach Jay Wright, Villanova and their fans are no stranger to serving as a villain (or at least having a target on their backs) as a result of a New Blood reputation at the top of the college basketball landscape.
Nevertheless, poaching a head coach away from a power conference in the immediate aftermath of a Sweet Sixteen bid marks a stunning change of tactics from Villanova teams of the past, hiring up and coming candidates with a prior connection to the program. It’s a statement move for new Wildcats’ athletic director Eric Roedl, the type of gutsy dice roll necessary to stay afloat in the Wild West that is the NIL era of college athletics. Villanova could continue to play the villain role if they start recruiting players away from Maryland via the transfer portal, a common strategy in the wake of coaching changes in recent seasons.
Only time will tell whether the gambit pays off, but in the meantime, here’s the full range of emotions among fans of the Wildcats, Terrapins, and college sports in general. Feel free to add your own reaction in the comments below.
There should be a rule in College Sports that if a Coach leaves before their contract is up their new team automatically gets an away date added to the schedule at the team they left.
Kevin Willard having to play @ Maryland next year as part of his exit is all I ask.
— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) March 30, 2025
Lied to the players.
Lied to the MD administration.
Lied to the MD boosters.
Lied to the local media.
Lied to the National media.
Blamed the media for fabricating the Villanova rumors.
Forced out the AD.
Publicly threw the University under the bus.
Skipped team dinner before… https://t.co/Q1F7Ym6JAI— JBR Bracketology (@JBRBracketology) March 30, 2025
V’s Up – A message from Head Coach, @KevinWillard! pic.twitter.com/buM314Nkcg
— Villanova MBB (@NovaMBB) March 30, 2025
I could make the case that Villanova is the best job of the country. VERY motivated donor and alum base will make sure the coffers are filled, and unlike in the P4 the first dollars will go to men's basketball. https://t.co/vdvWu7cPJ0
— Seth Davis (@SethDavisHoops) March 30, 2025
Kevin Willard stole the spotlight from the players, insulted the intelligence of Maryland student and alumni, and had his team come out feeble and disorganized in the second half.
He made it about him, so the embarrassment is on him, and hopefully Villanova. Bye 👋 pic.twitter.com/qbBtf8FA5q
— Michael Jaffe (@mjaffeterp) March 28, 2025
Officially official.
Impressed with how Eric Roedl handled this. Villanova had a national search and poached a top coach from a top program. Acted like the big fish Villanova should be.
Not a huge Kevin Willard fan, but he will get Villanova back to national contention. https://t.co/Ijd3p7DWXu
— Colin Beazley (@colin_beazley) March 30, 2025
Maryland fans are going to have Duke-level hate for Willard and Villanova https://t.co/66l6piXIAl
— Dave (@TestudoDave) March 30, 2025
REACTION: Kevin Willard is leaving Maryland to take over at Villanova. On the road that led to this point, his relationship with Jay Wright and much more: pic.twitter.com/xQVYyEIZQD
— John Fanta (@John_Fanta) March 30, 2025
Villanova is Top-20 all time wins, 3 titles, 1 runner-up, 7 final fours, 15 elite 8s, 40 appearances.
Maryland has 1 title, two final fours, four elite 8s, 30 appearances.
So historically, you are wrong. https://t.co/symIb7AUsW
— Brian Ewart (@Brian_Ewart) March 30, 2025
Got a good night’s sleep and am ready to execute a perfect 180 from “lol Villanova” to “Villanova’s perfectly executed coaching search demonstrates Big East supremacy over all.”
— No Escalators (@NoEscalators) March 28, 2025
Villanova dropping the Kevin Willard announcement at 1:30 AM in the morning screams like all parties involved knew this was such a scummy way to handle the situation
— Isaiah Walker (@walkeri141) March 30, 2025
Willard was offered what he asked for and chose Villanova. It was always what he was going to do, but Willard decided to lie because that’s just who he is. Give the next guy the resources that Willard was going to get and this program will be in a good spot. https://t.co/EJhghDEsXo pic.twitter.com/zzZOh9i62a
— Ben Hall (@bhjournalist) March 30, 2025
Let’s just say Maryland fans aren’t taking the news well https://t.co/7zUjszBl87
— Sidelines Villanova (@SSN_Nova) March 30, 2025
He’ll never schedule us but when Villanova plays at Georgetown next season, you better believe Maryland fans will be there making life miserable. Hell hath no fury. 🐢
— Rudy Gersten (@DCBarno) March 30, 2025
phew. Maryland faithful is livid over the way they say Kevin Willard handled leaving for Villanova. two-week saga was punctuated by a middle of the night announcement. it's ugly in College Park. I feel bad for the Maryland players, who deserve to be celebrated for Sweet 16 run.
— Dick Weiss (@HoopsWeiss) March 30, 2025
This isn’t your father’s Villanova. https://t.co/s1q4uzv1zu
— Brian Ewart (@Brian_Ewart) March 30, 2025
The way that Kevin Willard handled all of this was awful IMO
Lied to media, shows no remorse or sympathy to UMD after his first career Sweet 16, dragged this all out during a tourney run, announces it all in the middle of the night….
Can leave but just so poorly handled
— Ryan Hammer🔨 (@ryanhammer09) March 30, 2025
ON ZOOM?!?!?!?!
He didn’t even tell the guys face to face. Kevin Willard is the biggest coward ever.
Good riddance. https://t.co/kGVueEzhCQ
— JDM (@Joshua__DM) March 30, 2025
