Big Ten Basketball: Ranking all 14 head coaches in 2023 offseason

4. Kevin Willard – Maryland

A point guard under father Ralph at Western Kentucky and Pittsburgh back in the 90’s, Willard has certainly made a name for himself with his own coaching career. The first decade came as an aide to Rick Pitino with both the Boston Celtics and at Louisville. His head coaching career began with three seasons at Iona before he was hired to lead Seton Hall. Willard was very successful in leading the Pirates for the next twelve seasons before Maryland hired him last offseason.

After taking Seton Hall to five NCAA Tournaments and a slew of success in the new Big East, Willard accepted the Maryland job last year and got right to work in his first season. The Terrapins exceeded early expectations, finishing the season with 22 wins, tying for 5th place in the Big Ten, and making the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Willard’s just getting started with the Terrapins, but it’s hard to imagine things going much better right off the bat.

Before taking the Maryland job, Willard was already a hot name in the coaching world for the continued success he’d built at Seton Hall. The immediate Tournament appearance and win at Maryland is a sign that his own success will continue and the Terrapins look like a Big Ten threat again in the near future. Willard has won some important games over his sixteen years as a college head coach; we’ll see if he can lead Maryland on a deep postseason run in the coming years.