WILLANOFUN: What Kevin Willard Being Back in the BIG EAST Means for Cooley, Georgetown

Cooley and Willard are friends since their MAAC days

The recent news of Kevin Willard’s departure from Maryland to Villanova has sent shockwaves through the college basketball landscape, and for the sophisticated fans of your Georgetown Hoyas, the ramifications are multi-layered and demand careful consideration. Beyond the immediate impact on the Terrapins program, Willard’s move carries significant questions for Georgetown, their non-conference scheduling, recruiting battles, and the overall standing of the BIG EAST Conference. Perhaps the most important note is that Ed Cooley is 11-9 against Kevin Willard all time.

Kevin Willard’s return to the BIG EAST with Villanova marks a homecoming to a conference where he has already made a name for himself, having spent twelve seasons at Seton Hall, earning 5+ NCAA Tournament invites, a BIG EAST Tournament title in 2016 and a share of the regular season crown in a covid-ended 2020. His familiarity with the conference’s intensity and the caliber of its coaches—including his long-standing professional relationship and camaraderie with Ed Cooley dating back to their MAAC days at Iona and Fairfield, respectively—adds another layer of intrigue to the BIG EAST landscape.

One of the more immediate concerns for Hoyas supporters revolves around the status of the newly scheduled four-year home-and-home series with Maryland, slated to begin in the 2025-26 season. This rekindling of a fierce local rivalry was met with enthusiasm, promising marquee non-conference matchups for both programs and a boost to the DMV’s college basketball scene. However, Willard’s sudden exit throws a degree of uncertainty into the mix.

Maryland now faces the daunting task of hiring a new head coach and, given the recent departure of their athletic director for SMU, an interim leader will be overseeing this critical search. This period of instability could very well lead to a reassessment of previously arranged scheduling commitments. While the press releases from both universities officially announced the series, the practicalities of a coaching transition might necessitate a delay or even a reconsideration of the agreement.

The potential postponement or cancellation of the Maryland series would pose a scheduling challenge for Ed Cooley and the Hoyas. Georgetown is reportedly confirmed to participate in a four-team MTE (Multi-Team Event) in Orlando during Thanksgiving Week of 2025, alongside BYU, Miami, and Dayton. This event offers valuable neutral-court games against quality opponents but there are no other whispers about Georgetown’s 2025-26 schedule.

The potential loss of guaranteed future home games against Maryland in alternating seasons would necessitate finding other attractive matchups to bolster their non-conference slate and engage the fanbase at Capital One Arena. As the BIG EAST–Big 12 Battle is not expected to continue after the 2024-25 season and the future of the Gavitt Games is doubtful, securing high-profile regional rivalries becomes even more crucial for Georgetown’s schedule strength and fan engagement. Working with the ACC makes sense but there’s nothing more than hope and conjecture at this point.

Beyond scheduling, Willard’s move has significant ramifications for recruiting dynamics in the highly competitive DMV area. Ed Cooley now has a window of opportunity to capitalize on the uncertainty surrounding the Maryland program. Players who may have been committed to or leaning towards Maryland due to Willard’s presence might now be more receptive to overtures from Georgetown. Cooley, who last year secured a top-20 ranking in overall recruiting (underrating Thomas Sorber) and brought in the highly coveted Micah Peavy, can leverage the stability and clear vision he is building at Georgetown to attract local talent while Maryland scrambles.

But Hoyas fans can’t forget that the recruiting challenge remains significant, as Villanova, under Jay Wright, had historically enjoyed considerable success recruiting in the Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia region. Willard’s arrival in Villanova could intensify this long-standing recruiting rivalry. His track record at Seton Hall and Maryland demonstrates his ability to attract top talent, and his return to the BIG EAST at a program with Villanova’s pedigree will undoubtedly make them a formidable force on the recruiting trail in the DMV and nationally.

As the coaching carousel spins in College Park, the potential arrival of a figure like Buzz Williams would likely be a formidable recruiter. Leading the Virginia Tech Hokies in Blacksburg, this ACC experience provides a degree of quasi-familiarity with the recruiting landscape and basketball fervor of the Washington metropolitan area. Should he indeed become the next head coach of the Terrapins, Williams, with his proven track record of building competitive programs at Marquette, Virginia Tech, and Texas A&M, would set the stage for renewed recruiting battles with Ed Cooley and Georgetown in the fertile grounds of the DMV.

Ed Cooley will not only have to compete with the new Maryland coach, who will be eager to make a splash, but also with a motivated Willard at a direct BIG EAST rival. The battle for local recruits (and transfers) will be a key storyline to watch in the coming seasons.

Thirdly, Willard’s decision to leave a Big Ten program for a BIG EAST school speaks volumes about the growing attractiveness of coaching in the BIG EAST Conference. Despite the perceived advantages of power-football conferences, Willard cited concerns about Maryland’s commitment to funding basketball at the highest level, particularly in the context of revenue sharing with athletes.

At BIG EAST institutions like Villanova, men’s basketball often receives a larger share of athletic department revenue compared to football-centric schools. This ability to prioritize basketball and invest significantly in the program, including revenue sharing up to $20.5 million annually with athletes, makes the BIG EAST an increasingly appealing destination for top coaches.

Willard’s move, following a Sweet Sixteen run at Maryland, underscores the BIG EAST’s resurgence as a premier basketball conference capable of attracting and retaining high-caliber coaching talent. Fans need to grasp the power of this shift from NIL to revenue sharing now because the football schools may no longer have a huge ($) advantage.

This trend, while positive for the overall strength and national profile of the BIG EAST, presents both opportunities and challenges for Georgetown. The increased competition within the conference, fueled by robust financial models and the presence of accomplished coaches like Willard, demands that Georgetown continues to invest strategically in its men’s basketball program and recruiting efforts under Ed Cooley.

While the loss of a coach like Willard from a regional rival could offer a temporary advantage for GU, the Hoyas must also contend with his presence at a fellow BIG EAST institution, further emphasizing the need for sustained excellence to compete at the highest level of the conference. Villanova and Xavier are sending messages that they are not prepared to roll over, play dead, and live off scraps in the basement.

Kevin Willard’s move to Villanova has undoubtedly created a ripple effect that touches Georgetown on multiple fronts. The future of the Maryland series hangs in the balance, presenting a potential scheduling hurdle. The local recruiting landscape has become even more competitive with Willard now at a BIG EAST rival.

However, Willard’s decision also serves as a testament to the BIG EAST reemerging strength in the sport, a factor that will undoubtedly shape the conference’s future and require Georgetown’s continued growth and strategic planning to achieve their own aspirations.

Hoyas fans will undoubtedly monitor the developments in Maryland’s coaching search and the ensuing recruiting battles with both UMD and a Willard-led Villanova.