Willard’s concerns revolve around the program’s NIL funds and revenue shares.
Maryland men’s basketball head coach Kevin Willard said he needs to see fundamental changes to the program before signing a contract extension, but that negotiations are difficult right now because Maryland athletics director Damon Evans is likely headed to SMU for the same position.
“He’s probably going to SMU, so it’s kind of tough to negotiate with somebody that’s maybe not here,” Willard said Thursday during NCAA Tournament media availability. “But I need to make fundamental changes to the program, that’s what I’m focused on right now, that’s why, probably, a deal hasn’t gotten done.”
Willard has been heavily rumored for the recent opening as Villanova’s new men’s basketball head coach. While not outright denying his interest in the position during a press conference Sunday, Willard alleviated some concerns, saying, “Damon Evans and I, he hired me, we’re on the same page of what we want to do for this program, what we want to do for this university.”
His tone and perfunctory response changed days later. At the forefront of Willard’s concerns are the program’s NIL budget and revenue shares. The school’s $20.5 million revenue sharing fund sends $13 million to the football program, $4 million to $5 million to men’s basketball and $1 million to women’s basketball, according to Inside Maryland Sports.
“We’ve been one of the worst, if not the lowest [in the Big Ten], in NIL the last two years,” Willard said. “I also have to make a fundamental change where I can do the things that I want to do with my program.”
Willard said he wanted to spend an extra night in New York to celebrate Christmas with the team after its win over Syracuse on Dec. 21, but was told the additional night was too expensive.
“I don’t know how we can be a top tier program and I can’t spend one extra night in New York because its too expensive,” he said.
Willard’s comments come a day before the No. 4-seeded Terps — the program’s highest seeding since 2015 — take on No. 13-seed Grand Canyon in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Maryland has also totaled its most wins in a season (25) since 2015-16.
Willard has led Maryland to the national tournament twice in his three years at the helm, defeating then-No. 9-seed West Virginia in the first round in 2023.
“When you’ve been somewhere for three years, and I love it here, you’re going to find the things that need to be changed,” Willard said, “and right now, … I have an opportunity to make sure that I make fundamental changes to what I believe we need to do to be successful.”