Maryland basketball surfaces with the latest glitzy head teaching gig throughout school basketball. Particularly after Kevin Willard accepted the earlier most prestigious opening at Villanova Sunday.
Willard noticed his identify connected to the ‘Nova head teaching job all through March Insanity. He handled unrest throughout the athletic division (Damon Evans left as athletic director for SMU) and Maryland’s NIL woes. Willard will formally get a contemporary begin, plus make his return to the Large East after beforehand main Seton Corridor.
The Maryland job, nevertheless, comes with a number of perks. The subsequent head coach will inherit a program contemporary off a Candy 16 run. There’s additionally the Large Ten schedule that’ll appeal to the following teaching chief. Willard’s substitute additionally has a deep school basketball switch portal expertise pool to pluck from.
Who’re the perfect candidates? There’s a mixture of expertise coaches (together with with NCAA Event runs in tow) and a mid-major quick riser.
Buzz Williams, Texas A&M
The seasoned Williams is already listening to essentially the most buzz for this Maryland opening. He is the primary coach talked about on Inside MD Sports activities’ sizzling board on 247Sports. His physique language on a number of nights point out he desires out of Faculty Station.
The Faculty Park college can capitalize. Williams’ resume options 11 journeys to the NCAA Event. He even owns a greater teaching file than Willard at his previous three teaching stops of Marquette, Virginia Tech and Texas A&M.
He has zero Ultimate 4 appearances, although. That is the one blemish on his teaching profession. However he is good for Maryland if the college desires to lean on an skilled coach.
Mark Byington, Vanderbilt
The Terrapins can develop into fixated on somebody from the Southeastern Convention. Exterior of Williams, Byington is a contender.
Byington took a 9-20 program and instantly turned the Commadores right into a March Insanity staff — going 20-13. Each staff he is coached wins.
Byington went 131-97 general at Georgia Southern then 82-36 at James Madison — the latter incomes a NCAA Event bid below him final 12 months. His buyout acquired set at $1 million per The Athletic after he accepted the Vandy job.
Tony Bennett, former Virginia head coach
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Must be sensible: The retired Bennett will all the time have his identify linked to any main opening. And this one has its causes in trying to coax him.
For starters, Bennett already is aware of the DMV (Washington D.C., Maryland, Virginia) space very nicely from his time in Charlottesville. He will not must rebuild from the bottom up in comparison with previous stops Virginia and Washington State.
The athletic division tensions may flip him away, although. However Maryland must swing massive if its adamant about successful a nationwide title. The 55-year-old Bennett is likely one of the few nationwide title winners nonetheless on the market.
Bryce Drew, Grand Canyon College
Drew endured a disappointing early exit with Grand Canyon. Nonetheless, he rebuilt himself since Vanderbilt.
The 50-year-old is an astonishing 120-40 general with the Lopes. He recruits astonishing size for a non-public faculty that performs in a mid-major convention.
His dismal manufacturing at his final energy convention cease (Vandy) seemingly will not make him a primary possibility. He additionally locked in a six-year contract in Dec. 2024 and even bought a $6.2 million home within the Phoenix Valley. He could hear a cellphone name, although, from Maryland.
Duane Simpkins, American College
Simpkins is not any coach who would make a big leap to Maryland. He is aware of the Terrapins nicely — having performed for the legendary Terps coach Gary Williams.
Simpkins averaged greater than 10.5 factors per sport in his last three seasons on campus from 1993-94 to 1995-96. He took American College again to the NCAA Event after a decade dry spell.
He is acquired a “private affinity” for Maryland basketball per Jeff Erman of Inside MD on 247Sports. Simpkins appears to be like like the right man to work with what Maryland has. He gained with much more restricted assets at American.