One of the deciders in the process was none other than Jay Wright, Willard’s former adversary over a decade coaching at Seton Hall. After formal conversations with university President Rev. Peter Donohue and athletic director Eric Roedl, Willard fired up the old Big East phone tree Saturday night.

Once Kevin Willard left Maryland basketball for Villanova, there was a mass exodus in College Park. Both Ja'Kobi Gillespie and Rodney Rice entered the transfer portal, and so did most of the bench. But the Terrapins' lone 2025 recruit also re-opened his recruitment.

Three days after officially becoming Villanova’s head coach, Kevin Willard spoke Wednesday with reporters on Zoom. Willard has had a busy few days. He traveled Monday to Indianapolis to watch the women’s team play in a WBIT semifinal,