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.

Willard met the media for the first time since becoming the head coach of the Wildcats. He talked about his exit from Maryland and much more.

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.