Courtesy of Villanova Athletics
New men's basketball head coach Kevin Willard spoke to the media alongside Athletic Director Eric Roedl and University President Father Peter M. Donohue, O.S.A., Ph.D.
On Wednesday, April 9, Villanova officially introduced new head men’s basketball coach Kevin Willard at a press conference alongside Athletic Director Eric Roedl and University President Father Peter M. Donohue, O.S.A., Ph.D.
The University announced Willard’s hiring in a release on Sunday, March 30. He fills the vacancy of former head coach Kyle Neptune. Previously, Willard spent three years as the head coach of Maryland men’s basketball. During his tenure, he led the Terrapins to an overall record of 65-39, including a Sweet 16 run during the 2024-25 season.
He has 18 years of head coaching experience, including stints at Iona and Big East rival Seton Hall. Willard coached the Pirates to five NCAA Tournament appearances. He has a 335-249 total head coaching record.
“I’m not here to change the culture,” Willard said. “I’m not here to change the attitude. I’m not here to change anything besides the way we play. I just want to play winning basketball, and that’s all I’m really focused on.”
It was Willard’s first official in-person press conference, after he previously held a Zoom press conference on April 2.
The press conference began with remarks from Father Peter and Roedl.
Father Peter described Willard as the right fit to be the next head coach of Villanova basketball due to his commitment to excellence and alignment with Villanova’s Augustinian values.
“Over the past decade, our program has won two national championships, reached the Final Four and Sweet 16, and have won 10 total Big East regular season tournament championships,” Father Peter said in his opening remarks. “Under Coach Willard’s leadership, I am confident that Villanova’s legacy of excellence and success will continue, maintaining our place among the nation’s elite.”
Father Peter also thanked Neptune, Roedl and the head coach search committee for all the time they put into the basketball program.
In a follow-up to Father Peter, Roedl took the podium. He thanked Neptune and former interim head coach Mike Nardi. Roedl then echoed Father Peter’s sentiments, and emphasized that Willard was the best candidate because of his alignment with Villanova’s Augustinian values, his “desire to become immersed” in the community and his commitment to embracing the program’s future.
“We had the opportunity to speak with several outstanding coaches from around the country, yet when we had the opportunity to visit with Willard, it quickly became clear that he was everything we were looking for,” Roedl said.
As Willard took the podium, he spoke about his family’s collective decision to move to the Main Line, including his wife and two sons, Colin and Chase.
“It was an extremely hard decision for [our family],” Willard said. “But when we looked at all the pros and cons, and being part of the Villanova family, being back part of a small community that we were used to for 15 years at Iona and Seton Hall, that was a huge decision. I don’t think there’s any higher level than this.”
During the media portion, Willard described Villanova’s strong alumni base as the program’s most attractive quality to prospective players, despite a transfer portal that is “out of control.”
“The strongest part [of the Villanova brand] is the fact that the former players have as strong of a brotherhood as I’ve ever seen, anywhere I’ve ever gone,” Willard said. “To be perfectly honest, that’s the biggest sell.”
Willard also commented on his close relationship with former head coach and Hall of Famer Jay Wright. He highlighted Wright’s influence on his decision to take the job.
“I have no problem saying it every day that this is Coach Wright’s program because I’d be a fool not to accept that, not to embrace it,” Willard said, pointing to Wright in the audience. “I have so much respect for him, I have so much respect for what he did here.”
Looking towards the future, Willard expressed his commitment to turning Villanova back into a dominant national basketball program and garnering enthusiasm from the fanbase. He brought together his goals for the program and his personal motivations to come to the Main Line.
“I feel like I’m in the prime of my coaching career,” Willard said. “I just turned 50…We made a family decision. This was my wife and I making a decision together where we wanted to spend, technically, my last job. This is going to be our last move.”
Willard’s new coaching staff was in attendance, including three former Maryland assistants: David Cox, Kevin Norris and Greg Manning Jr. Willard quickly solidified his staff after Villanova concluded its run in the College Basketball Crown over the weekend.
Assistant coach Ashley Howard, who joined the Villanova staff in 2013, will remain at Villanova.
“The playing style has to change,” Willard said. “The way you teach the game has to change. It’s why I kept my whole staff. I have to teach my defense, my offense and you have three weeks when you get your players to start working on it. So you have to be so much more adaptive in the way you play.”
Following the press conference, Willard continues the task of filling Villanova’s eight open roster spots. So far, former Maryland four-star recruit Chris Jeffrey and former Maryland freshman guard Malachi Palmer have committed to Villanova. Three former Villanova players have entered the transfer portal: redshirt freshman guard Kris Parker, freshman forward Josiah Moseley and freshman guard Aleksandar Gavalyugov.