Villanova coach turns heads after 'joke' that he would 'fire my staff' during March Madness loss

Villanova caput manager Kevin Willard was not blessed during his team's March Madness defeat.

The eighth-seeded Wildcats fell to No. 9 Utah State successful the archetypal circular Friday, and Willard mentioned making changes to his unit not once, but doubly due to the fact that of however his squad performed.

During the game, Willard was interviewed by TNT's Lauren Shehadi astir keeping Utah State retired of the overgarment aft it dominated wrong early.

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Villanova Wildcats caput manager Kevin Willard reacts successful the archetypal fractional against the Utah State Aggies during a first-round crippled of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament astatine Viejas Arena.  (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)

"I'm going to occurrence my staff," Willard said. 

Shehadi replied, "Not now."

"Yeah, I am," Willard added. 

"Because we've fixed up 8 points connected underneath, out-of-bounds defense. So, the lone happening I'm going to bash is occurrence them and get a caller staff."

"OK, spell bash that now," Shehadi replied.

After the 86-76 loss, Willard doubled down successful his property conference.

"We gave up a large 3 late. I'm astir apt going to person to marque immoderate changes to my unit conscionable due to the fact that of however atrocious we were," helium said.

Villanova Wildcats caput manager Kevin Willard speaks up of the archetypal circular of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament astatine Viejas Arena.  (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)

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Another newsman past began to inquire Willard astir the comments, but the manager would not fto him finish.

"It's a joke. God bless it," Willard said.

The newsman past mentioned that Willard was getting criticized online.

"I don't care," helium responded. "Welcome to my life. It's a joke."

Many connected societal media were not blessed with however Willard handled his "joke."

"Dude says thing that doesn’t travel crossed arsenic a gag astatine all. Then gets annoyed erstwhile radical inquire him astir it. Good luck with him Nova," 1 X idiosyncratic said.

"Kevin Willard says firing his unit was ‘a joke’ aft saying it doubly and looking dormant serious. Classic non-apology deflection, zero accountability, conscionable ‘haha psych’ aft embarrassing his squad and unit connected nationalist TV," 1 much wrote.

Willard joined Villanova this play aft spending the erstwhile 3 astatine Maryland. In his last play with the Terrapins, helium went to the Sweet 16.

Villanova Wildcats caput manager Kevin Willard reacts during the archetypal fractional against the Butler Bulldogs astatine William B. Finneran Pavilion.  (Bill Streicher/Imagn Images)

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This play marked Willard's eighth clip going to the NCAA Tournament. He's ne'er made it to the Elite Eight.

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