ESPN star slams Kevin Willard's Maryland exit as coach takes Villanova job

Kevin Willard near the Maryland Terrapins men’s hoops squad to instrumentality implicit the Villanova Wildcats, attempting to resurrect the programme that saw Jay Wright permission a fewer years ago.

Willard’s departure came aft the Terrapins had a amusive tally successful March Madness, which saw Derik Queen’s buzzer-beater springiness them a triumph implicit Colorado State. Maryland’s tally ended successful the Sweet 16 with a nonaccomplishment to the No. 1-seeded Florida Gators.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Sports broadcaster Scott Van Pelt reacts during the 2nd fractional astatine the crippled betwixt the Maryland Terrapins and the Michigan State Spartans astatine Xfinity Center successful College Park, Maryland, connected Feb. 26, 2025. (Reggie Hildred-Imagn Images)

It was the deepest tourney tally for Willard’s squad since helium took implicit the Terps earlier the commencement of the 2022-23 season. He had been with the Seton Hall Pirates earlier that.

However, arsenic rapidly arsenic helium arrived, Willard was gone. He was announced arsenic the caller caput manager astatine Villanova connected Sunday arsenic the Wildcats prepared for the College Basketball Crown. The determination for Willard to permission angered Maryland fans, including ESPN broadcaster Scott Van Pelt.

"Of people Kevin Willard tin spell to Villanova," Van Pelt started. "Of course, you tin spell backmost to your Big East roots. Of course, if it’s amended for your household –– we’re savages, but we’re not soulless savages. If it’s amended for your family, of course. But possibly you don’t instrumentality a elephantine s--- connected the beforehand steps of the location you’ve lived successful for the past 3 years.

Maryland Terrapins caput manager Kevin Willard addresses the media successful a property league during NCAA Tournament West Regional Practice astatine Chase Center successful San Francisco connected March 26, 2025. (Kyle Terada-Imagn Images)

USC STAR JUJU WATKINS BREAKS SILENCE AFTER DEVASTATING MARCH MADNESS INJURY: 'THANK YOU ALL'

"You don’t bash harm to the assemblage and programme wherever you’ve been for 3 years. And you don’t instrumentality efforts of the radical down the scenes who poured their hearts and souls into this for escaped for you to effort and capable successful the gaps. And archer them, ‘Nah, nah I emotion this assemblage and I conscionable privation it to beryllium great. And I’m anal, and I’m an A-hole and I conscionable privation this programme to beryllium the champion it tin be.

"Maybe you don’t archer those radical that to their look repeatedly erstwhile everyone successful the manufacture is saying to me, ‘Scott, wherefore are you guys wasting your time? This is done. Everybody successful the concern knows it. He’s gone.’"

ESPN commentator Scott Van Pelt reacts during the 2nd fractional astatine the crippled betwixt the Maryland Terrapins and the Wisconsin Badgers astatine Xfinity Center successful College Park, Maryland, connected Jan 29, 2025. (Reggie Hildred-Imagn Images)

Van Pelt, a Maryland grad, appeared to beryllium upset with however Willard started the tournament. The manager took subtle shots astatine outgoing athletics manager Damon Evans and complained of the deficiency of NIL resources the programme had.

The broadcaster suggested Willard’s requests were not made successful bully faith.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Regardless, Willard is disconnected connected a caller journey. He was 65-39 successful 3 seasons astatine Maryland. He spent 12 years astatine Seton Hall and 3 years astatine Iona.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports sum connected X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.