Seton Corridor males’s basketball coach Kevin Willard, high goal for Maryland emptiness, mulls future

Seton Hall coach Kevin Willard is mulling his future as Maryland has closed in on him as the first goal for its teaching emptiness, sources advised ESPN.

No deal has but been agreed to, sources stated, however the two sides are in talks.

Following Seton Corridor’s 69-42 loss within the first spherical of the NCAA match on Friday, Willard admitted there’s an opportunity he is not teaching the Pirates subsequent season — and even instructed former assistant and present Saint Peter’s coach Shaheen Holloway, a former Seton Corridor star participant, as his alternative.

“I will provide you with precisely what I can inform you,” Willard advised reporters. “I’ve an agent who I have never talked to but. I do not know who he is speaking to. I’ve completely no thought. However once I get house I will speak to my agent and focus on issues with my agent.

“I do not know [if things will be resolved soon]. I actually haven’t — I’ve had three completely different brokers within the final month. So my unique agent (Jordan Bazant) I’ve had for 12 years went to TV broadcasting. I will be sincere with you. If I am not right here subsequent yr, I might love, if Shaheen Holloway is right here, that may be the happiest factor to occur to me.”

Willard, who has been at Seton Corridor for 12 seasons, has been thought of a favourite within the Maryland search for the reason that job opened in early December following Mark Turgeon’s resignation. The Terrapins reached out to Alabama’s Nate Oats early within the course of, sources advised ESPN, however that was a non-starter resulting from Oats’ large buyout. USC’s Andy Enfield took his identify out of the operating when he agreed to a brand new contract with the Trojans earlier this month.

Over the previous couple of weeks, the 2 coaches to separate themselves from the pack have gave the impression to be Willard and Notre Dame’s Mike Brey, a Maryland native who guided the Combating Irish to a First 4 win over Rutgers on Wednesday and a first-round win over Alabama on Friday. They face No. three seed Texas Tech on Sunday.

Nevertheless it’s Willard who has emerged as the favourite.

A Lengthy Island native, Willard performed his faculty ball at Western Kentucky and Pittsburgh earlier than starting his teaching profession as an assistant coach with the Boston Celtics below Rick Pitino. He adopted Pitino to Louisville, the place he spent six seasons as an assistant coach earlier than taking the top teaching job at Iona. In 15 seasons as a head coach, Willard has been to 5 NCAA tournaments and received a share of the Massive East regular-season title in 2020.

He is the son of Ralph Willard, who spent practically 40 years in teaching — together with stints as the top coach at Western Kentucky, Pittsburgh and Holy Cross.