Villanova head coach doubles down on 'joke' he needs to fire staff after NCAA Tournament loss

Villanova men’s basketball caput coach Kevin Willard’s in-game joke did not onshore nan measurement he whitethorn person hoped, but he didn’t apologize for it aft nan Wildcats’ nonaccomplishment to Utah State successful nan first information of nan NCAA Tournament. 

Willard was interviewed by CBS Sports’ Lauren Shehadi during a timeout, and he ripped into his coaching unit arsenic nan Wildcats were struggling against nan Aggies. 

"I’m going to occurrence my staff," Willard said successful a now-viral moment. "Because we’ve fixed up 8 points connected underneath, out-of-bounds defense. The only point I’m going do is occurrence them and get a caller staff."

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Head coach Kevin Willard of nan Villanova Wildcats looks connected during nan 2nd half of nan 2026 Big East Men's Tournament - Quarterfinal crippled against nan Georgetown Hoyas astatine Madison Square Garden connected March 12, 2026 successful New York City. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

Willard whitethorn person been joking, but his deadpan transportation had others reasoning he was superior astir it astatine nan moment. 

After nan 86-76 nonaccomplishment to extremity nan season, Willard sat for a post-game question and reply wherever he was asked astir his in-game comments regarding his staff. 

Again, he whitethorn person been joking, but he doubled down. 

VILLANOVA COACH TURNS HEADS AFTER ‘JOKE’ THAT HE WOULD ‘FIRE MY STAFF’ DURING MARCH MADNESS LOSS

"We gave up a large three-pointer late," Willard told nan excavation of reporters, per CBS Sports. "I’m astir apt going to person to make immoderate changes to my unit because of really bad we were."

As he was getting different mobility astir his staff, Willard stepped backmost in. 

"It’s a joke," he said. "God bless it. …I don’t care. Welcome to my life. It’s a joke."

Head coach Kevin Willard of nan Villanova Wildcats gestures during nan first half against nan Utah State Aggies successful nan first information of nan 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament astatine Viejas Arena astatine San Diego State University connected March 20, 2026 successful San Diego, California. (Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)

Willard wasn’t pleased pinch his team’s capacity either way. While nan in-bound plays were an issue, nan Wildcats besides blew a 10-point lead successful nan 2nd half, which he credited to the Aggies’ relentless pressure. 

"You know, we sewage up by 10, and past we gave up 3 violative rebounds. Give them credit. They’re a seasoned team, older guards. They did a awesome occupation of getting successful late, but we had our opportunities," he said. "Then, we were up 73-71, and we missed 2 layups that benignant of really wounded us. Give them credit. They capitalized connected it."

Utah State caput coach Jerrod Calhoun noted, "We did not for illustration our seed," aft his No. 10 squad took down No. 7 Villanova. But they will person to beryllium it pinch different upset against top-seeded Arizona connected Sunday astatine 7:50 p.m. ET. 

"We won 28 games. We won nan regular play title, we won nan tourney title," Calhoun said, per CBS Sports. "So erstwhile this squad has an edge, and they play pinch a small spot of swagger and a small spot of toughness and resilience, we tin origin a batch of problems."

Villanova Wildcats caput coach Kevin Willard astatine property convention up of nan first information of nan men's 2026 NCAA Tournament astatine Viejas Arena.  (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)

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Willard was caput coach of nan Maryland Terrapins past season, wherever he was capable to return his squad to nan 2nd information of nan NCAA Tournament acknowledgment to a clutch game-winning bucket by Derik Queen to hit Colorado State. 

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