Kevin Willard faces rumors amid Maryland's Sweet 16 Run: Will he stay or leave for villanova?

On the eve of Maryland’s most important basketball game in nearly a decade, head coach Kevin Willard found himself deflecting questions about widespread rumors linking him to the vacant Villanova coaching position.

The past two weeks have been a whirlwind for the Maryland athletic department. SMU poached Maryland’s athletic director, Damon Evans, for the same role, while Willard expressed his frustration with the administration's handling of NIL funds after the team’s dominant 81-49 win over Grand Canyon in the first round.

When asked about Maryland’s athletic department, which many speculate could be a factor in his potential departure to Villanova, Willard focused instead on preparing for the Sweet 16 matchup against Florida, the No. 1 seed in the West Region. Just over 24 hours earlier, in an appearance on "The Team 980" radio, Willard stated he was staying at Maryland “as of now.”

Despite the rumors and pressure surrounding him, Willard’s players seemed unaffected, with the mood in Maryland’s locker room a stark contrast to his more somber press conference demeanor. The locker room buzzed with laughter, joy, and smiling faces as the team prepared for their next challenge.

Maryland star Derik Queen, who played a key role in sending the team to the Sweet 16 with his buzzer-beater against Colorado State, took a lighthearted approach to the rumors, joking about his frontcourt teammate Julian Reese always “taking his rebounds.” Queen, who is one of the highest-rated recruits in Maryland history, explained that while Willard’s focus is on winning, whatever happens with the coach’s future will unfold after the season.

“First, he wants to win,” Queen told CBS Sports when asked about the situation. “Whatever happens after the season, happens... Maryland had some difficulties over the past few years, but coach Willard has turned it around. Now I feel like everyone is going to want to come here. After this year, we’ll be back on our feet and winning.”

Queen, a top recruit who hit one of the most memorable shots in NCAA Tournament history to send Maryland to the Sweet 16, has teamed up with Reese to form the only duo in Division I basketball averaging at least nine rebounds per game. Together, they are the first pair of Big Ten teammates to each amass 400 points and 300 rebounds in a season since the Van Arsdale brothers at Indiana in the early 1960s.

Reese, the brother of WNBA star Angel Reese, has been a constant leader for the team. He has been with the program through the entirety of Willard’s tenure, including the 2023 second-round NCAA Tournament appearance and the challenging 16-17 record last year. This season, Reese has helped guide the Terps to their best performance in nearly a decade.

Reese, who could have transferred after the team’s disappointing 2024 campaign, stayed loyal to Maryland and was integral in leading the team to success this season.

“He’s a real guy,” Reese said when asked why players gravitate toward Willard. “He’s not going to lie to you. Great coach. He lets players play freely and doesn’t put a lot of pressure on them. He’s great at player development.”

Queen and Reese both had options elsewhere but chose to play under Willard at Maryland.

“I love coach Willard,” Queen said. “That’s my guy. I’m glad I came here.”

Now the big question remains: will Willard choose to return to Maryland, or will he leave for Villanova? As of Thursday, March 27, 2025, the only person who knows the answer is not discussing it.