Per USA Today data from March 2024, Maryland’s athletics division ranked twelfth within the Massive Ten in complete bills earlier than the arrival of former Pac-12 members Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washington.
Willard additionally revealed that uncertainty with the college’s athletics division influenced the negotiation course of.
Former Maryland athletics director Damon Evans accepted the identical function at SMU earlier than Willard took Villanova’s supply.
“Perhaps … do not take an enormous s— on the entrance steps of the home you’ve got lived within the final three years,” Van Pelt responded on his “SVPod” podcast. (h/t 247 Sports)
The long-time “SportsCenter” host was vital of Willard for main Maryland on and suggesting that if the college made correct modifications, he would keep.
“You do not take the efforts of the folks behind the scenes … and inform them … ‘I really like this college and I simply need it to be nice,'” Van Pelt stated.
“Perhaps you do not inform these folks that to their face repeatedly when everybody within the trade is saying … ‘He is gone,'” he continued.
We get Van Pelt’s level. Breakups aren’t enjoyable.
However Willard stated what Maryland wanted to listen to. Whereas he may by no means have meant to remain, the Terrapins wanted to make a extra concerted effort in developing a sustainable profitable program.
Maryland is anticipated to have earmarked $4M in income sharing for the boys’s basketball program, which ought to rank close to the highest amongst Massive Ten groups, per Yahoo Sports.
That cash will not go away just because Willard is now not within the body.
Maryland additionally upgraded at head coach due to his departure, luring Buzz Williams from Texas A&M on Tuesday.
Williams has a profession 373-228 (.621) file, together with 11 NCAA Match appearances in 18 seasons as a head coach, which started at New Orleans in 2006-07 and in addition included stints at Marquette (2008-14) and Virginia Tech (2014-19).
Willard is 335-249 (.574) all-time, additionally in 18 seasons, and has seven profession NCAA Match appearances.
Whereas Willard and Maryland’s break up was messy, it must be greatest for everybody. He will get to teach the place basketball is the highest precedence, whereas Maryland obtained a needed wake-up name.
As Van Pelt colorfully put it, whereas Willard might need left a multitude on his method out, a minimum of Maryland has turned it into one thing constructive.
