Maryland men’s basketball has reportedly found its replacement for head coach Kevin Willard.
Willard left for Villanova over the weekend after three seasons with the Terrapins, making the move just days after leading the program to its first Sweet 16 appearance in nine years. The move left a foul taste in the mouths of Maryland supporters, since Willard had openly flirted with leaving while the team’s postseason run was still going on.
“Earlier today, Kevin Willard officially announced he would be stepping down as the head coach of our Men’s Basketball program to accept another position,” Maryland announced on Sunday. “Coach Willard led the Terps on an incredible run this season. The Crab 5, Derik Queen’s miraculous buzzer-beater, and a Sweet 16 berth. This was a season to remember.
“We took a very proactive and aggressive approach to retain Coach Willard, offering a significant contract extension and salary increase, new staff, and one of the highest revenue-share budgets in the B1G Conference. We had long and thoughtful conversations about the program and shared the same vision for Maryland Basketball. In the end, he made the choice that he felt was best for him and his family. On behalf of all of Terrapin Nation, we thank Coach Willard and his family for their service and wish them well.”
To find Willard’s successor, Maryland looked to the SEC, the top conference in the country this season.
According to Taylor Lyons of the Baltimore Sun, the Terrapins are in the process of finalizing a deal with Texas A&M’s Buzz Williams. Williams, 52, who has also been the head coach of Marquette, Virginia Tech and New Orleans, has led the Aggies over the last six seasons.
In his tenure at A&M, Williams went 120-73, guiding the program to three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances after an NIT runner-up finish in 2022.
For his career, Williams is 373-228 with 11 NCAA Tournament appearances in 18 seasons.
He led Marquette to the Sweet 16 in 2011 and 2012 before a trip to the Elite Eight in 2013. Williams also took Virginia Tech to the Sweet 16 in 2019.
Related: Maryland Releases Official Statement On Kevin Willard