Kevin Willard

[Halldan1]

The Trove asked this question of Pat Lyons two weeks ago in our 1 hour long interview.

Treasure Trove: When there was heat on Kevin Willard you chose to stay with him as head coach. Why?


Pat Lyons: At the end of every season I sit down and analyze and evaluate each athletic program, where it’s at and whether it’s going in the right direction. It all went wrong in February and March last year but being on the inside of the ropes and with the program I just felt like we were heading in the right direction. Our early success became an issue for us because no one expected us to be top 25 with a bunch of freshman. When we got into the top 25 we said ‘great we're here let’s get it and go,’ but we showed some youth and had some issues within the team that just took time to get through.

I honestly didn’t feel like a change was needed. We had a great nucleus coming back – they were all talented and worked hard. All of the other data points were moving in the right directions except the wins and losses.

Now obviously some fans probably were not happy with my direction and where the program was but people also need to realize that when you make a change at any program, in any sport, in its leadership, you can rest assured you’re putting yourself in another rebuild. It is very rare that a change takes place and things work out right away.

People were saying to me you must be getting a bunch of phone calls and e-mails and there was no shortage of people who wanted to give their opinions on the direction of the program, but I did not mind it at all. I’ve always said there’s only one thing worse than someone contacting you disgruntled and that is someone flat out not contacting you because they don’t care.

I have no problems with fans voicing their opinions as long as it is done in a respectful way. This is the business that we’ve chosen and we're in the public’s eye and every decision we make is judged in the public eye. I don’t mind that, because it is all part of the business. Maybe it is just the hockey player in me developing a thick skin.

 

[Halldan1]

You may or may not agree with Pat but you will always get an honest and detailed answer.

No AD in my time as a Seton Hall student, alum or as just a fan has ever reached out to Pirate Nation as Pat Lyons has done from day 1.

I remember the day Tony Bozzella was being introduced as our head coach replacing Ann Donovan. I knew little about women's basketball and given our poor track record over the years had zero interest. But Pat reached out to me that morning and said come down to the press conference and I'll introduce you to Tony and then after the presser is over write whatever you want with no restrictions. He had that much confidence in his hire.

Think about that. An AD of a Big East school taking the time to reach out to a blogger to do all possible to support a morbid SHU athletic program. One that had less than 25 season tickets sold the prior year.

That's what a good AD at a small school should be all about. Dealing not only with the major financial contributors but with the common fan as well.

Pat Lyons gets it and his dealings with the fans through this site is just one small example.

 

[Pirate64]

I repeat again. He's the best AD we've ever had by a mile- in all ways.

 

[hallgrad80]

Bringing Kevin back last season certainly worked out for him as did the hire of Tony in the woman's basketball program and he's clearly done an outstanding job with respect to improving the athletic infrastructure at SH and has made fund-raising a priority all of which he gets high marks for. His accessibility puts him head and shoulders above our more recent AD's and that accessibility is not limited to the major financial contributors.

The next major test for Pat that I see will be the men's soccer program which is dreadfull as we enter year five under this current coach.

 

[Halldan1]

Bringing Kevin back last season certainly worked out for him as did the hire of Tony in the woman's basketball program and he's clearly done an outstanding job with respect to improving the athletic infrastructure at SH and has made fund-raising a priority all of which he gets high marks for. His accessibility puts him head and shoulders above our more recent AD's and that accessibility is not limited to the major financial contributors.

The next major test for Pat that I see will be the men's soccer program which is dreadful as we enter year five under this current coach.

Pat was asked that question and responded in depth.

Unfortunately I already posted two questions and answers on the free board so that info remains on the pay site.

 

[HallX2]

You may or may not agree with Pat but you will always get an honest and detailed answer.

No AD in my time as a Seton Hall student, alum or as just a fan has ever reached out to Pirate Nation as Pat Lyons has done from day 1.

I remember the day Tony Bozzella was being introduced as our head coach replacing Ann Donovan. I knew little about women's basketball and given our poor track record over the years had zero interest. But Pat reached out to me that morning and said come down to the press conference and I'll introduce you to Tony and then after the presser is over write whatever you want with no restrictions. He had that much confidence in his hire.

Think about that. An AD of a Big East school taking the time to reach out to a blogger to do all possible to support a morbid SHU athletic program. One that had less than 25 season tickets sold the prior year.

That's what a good AD at a small school should be all about. Dealing not only with the major financial contributors but with the common fan as well.

Pat Lyons gets it and his dealings with the fans through this site is just one small example.

Perhaps one of the most inane questions ever asked of an AD. What, there aren't many complexities to their relationship completely ignored in this exchange? Such as KW was Pat's biggest booster and close friend. Pure pablum

 

[Section112]

Perhaps one of the most inane questions ever asked of an AD. What, there aren't many complexities to their relationship completely ignored in this exchange? Such as KW was Pat's biggest booster and close friend. Pure pablum

Yea but he was right in the end. If he fired KW we also lose a number of players and our players said that was a guarantee. I was unhappy but Pat Lyons showed leadership by listening, sticking to his guns and making the right decision in the end and we are now on an upswing in all facets. If we had a disasterous year KW would not have been the only one being asked to exit and I'm sure Pat knew that and stuck with his guy even though his job was just as much on the line. You can bitch all you want but he was right in the end. We had our best season in years on the court and off the court the kids were tops in academics too end of story - game set and match to Lyons.

 

[Halldan1]

Perhaps one of the most inane questions ever asked of an AD. What, there aren't many complexities to their relationship completely ignored in this exchange? Such as KW was Pat's biggest booster and close friend. Pure pablum

Wow, you really think a question that was on the minds of just about every Pirate fan going into last season is not only inane but the most inane ever asked?

You might not have liked the answer, that's your pejorative. But past that you are way off base.

 

[cernjSHU]

Yea but he was right in the end. If he fired KW we also lose a number of players and our players said that was a guarantee. I was unhappy but Pat Lyons showed leadership by listening, sticking to his guns and making the right decision in the end and we are now on an upswing in all facets. If we had a disasterous year KW would not have been the only one being asked to exit and I'm sure Pat knew that and stuck with his guy even though his job was just as much on the line. You can bitch all you want but he was right in the end. We had our best season in years on the court and off the court the kids were tops in academics too end of story - game set and match to Lyons.

It remains to be seen that Lyons was right in retaining Willard. We had a good season last year compared to our recent history. But that's one year. Let's see what happens this year before we say that Lyons was right in retaining Willard or that Willard is a good coach. We saw improvement last year. It is very important to see the team and the program build upon that success and not go in reverse. Getting Thompson here would have been a big sign to me. But, same old story with recruiting. We shall see.

 

[Section112]

It remains to be seen that Lyons was right in retaining Willard. We had a good season last year compared to our recent history. But that's one year. Let's see what happens this year before we say that Lyons was right in retaining Willard or that Willard is a good coach. We saw improvement last year. It is very important to see the team and the program build upon that success and not go in reverse. Getting Thompson here would have been a big sign to me. But, same old story with recruiting. We shall see.

I agree that we have struggled getting bigs to SHU and that needs to improve but we have some excellent guards coming in this year and next (Cale - top 60 recruit and moving up the ranks). Have to give him credit for that. And last year was as good a year as we have had ever in the Big East. Have to improve now in the big dance but we have a very good nucleus of players to do that this year.

 

[shupat08]

I agree that we have struggled getting bigs to SHU and that needs to improve but we have some excellent guards coming in this year and next (Cale - top 60 recruit and moving up the ranks). Have to give him credit for that. And last year was as good a year as we have had ever in the Big East. Have to improve now in the big dance but we have a very good nucleus of players to do that this year.

While I would love to have multiple bigs like Angel on our roster each year, that seems like a stretch for us. However, if we can continue to get excellent guards and wings and we can move into recruiting average to above average big men and let them develop as underclassmen while the upperclassmen log most of the minutes we can have success.

 

[Halldan1]

Good point Pat. There is a dearth of 4-5 star big men available and most of them go to Cadillac schools.

That means for a program like the Hall at this stage you have to build as you noted, step by step until your pedigree insists that you are a viable destination for the high quality power players.

 

[MBF72]

I repeat again. He's the best AD we've ever had by a mile- in all ways.

Don't disagree, though going back to Father Horgan, he is not in stellar company.

 

[Seton75]

Someone asked KC about the rumors that KW may be let go this summer of fall. They asked him what would have happened. He said the players probably would have left. Now with the unfair restrictions the NCAA puts on kids transferring, I doubt if they all would have left. But the answer was very telling to me.

I guess the idea that the buyout was too heavy for us to bear as we were told last spring was incorrect.

I am excited to have Kevin as coach. I was not a fan, and now I am solidly on his support wagon.

 

[cernjSHU]

I am excited to have Kevin as coach. I was not a fan, and now I am solidly on his support wagon.

Will you be off the bandwagon if next year they have a bad year????? How about a mediocre year? How about they do not make the NCAA Tournament???? Will you be solidly in his corner?

 

[Seton75]

Will you be off the bandwagon if next year they have a bad year????? How about a mediocre year? How about they do not make the NCAA Tournament???? Will you be solidly in his corner?

If we disintegrate like we did two years ago, if we sign kids clearly not BE ready like we did for his first few years. if we stop playing D like we did last year, all bets are off. If the rising Jrs don't continue to get better, I will be disappointed. I am comfortable that the returning guys can make up for the huge hole left by Isaiah leaving. But I may be proved wrong. If we are similar to last year, just not as good, I stay on the wagon. I think we are going to actually be better than last year, and be similar to how we played in the BE from Day One. But the coach wont lose me if I am proved to be overly optimistic, like many posters will think I am when they read this.

 

[hallgrad80]

Kevin has , in my mind , answered some of the key issues that concerned many of us in a positive way. He has taken control of the team and his players and he is clearly in charge and he's proven he can coach and win games with his coaching. The open issue is whether he can recruit consistently enough to keep us in the upper half of the conference. He had a great 2014 class, a mediocre , at best, 2015 class and a solid 2016 class that would have been a very good class if TT signed with us . Cale's verbal gives us a great start to 2017 but we need to add to that class with players as talented and highly regarded as Cale is to sustain our recruiting momentum. If we can do that then our future looks really bright.

 

[SHUBK]

If we disintegrate like we did two years ago, if we sign kids clearly not BE ready like we did for his first few years. if we stop playing D like we did last year, all bets are off. If the rising Jrs don't continue to get better, I will be disappointed. I am comfortable that the returning guys can make up for the huge hole left by Isaiah leaving. But I may be proved wrong. If we are similar to last year, just not as good, I stay on the wagon. I think we are going to actually be better than last year, and be similar to how we played in the BE from Day One. But the coach wont lose me if I am proved to be overly optimistic, like many posters will think I am when they read this.

Stop playing D last year? I must have been watching a different team. D was the calling card of the team IMO. Even in NCAA despite awful shooting night I thought D huge tough for most part

 

[Seton75]

Stop playing D last year? I must have been watching a different team. D was the calling card of the team IMO. Even in NCAA despite awful shooting night I thought D huge tough for most part

I was saying if we do not play D this year like we did last year. So we totally agree

 

[SHUBK]

I was saying if we do not play D this year like we did last year. So we totally agree

Got ya. My bad there I read it incorrectly.

 

[SPK145]

Someone asked KC about the rumors that KW may be let go this summer of fall. They asked him what would have happened. He said the players probably would have left. Now with the unfair restrictions the NCAA puts on kids transferring, I doubt if they all would have left. But the answer was very telling to me.

Very stupid question to ask a player, that's the stock answer. What if Sha was elevated to head coach? Or Tiny? SMH.

 

[Piratefan2009]

It remains to be seen that Lyons was right in retaining Willard. We had a good season last year compared to our recent history. But that's one year. Let's see what happens this year before we say that Lyons was right in retaining Willard or that Willard is a good coach. We saw improvement last year. It is very important to see the team and the program build upon that success and not go in reverse. Getting Thompson here would have been a big sign to me. But, same old story with recruiting. We shall see.

This is pretty much my feeling at this point. One good year does not make an upswing. Consistent recruiting and putting out a competitive product on the floor is what will make this an upswing. Since Willard is sold as a defensive coach, I want to see us remain in high Adj D. ratings this year. Top 30 hopefully. Offense comes and goes, but the D has to be there for us to succeed. In that way he's like the Anti-Gonzo.

 

[Shuathelete]

What is with this new format its garbage

 

[Bobbie Solo]

super slow and buggy

 

[Vegas pj]

KW - luv him or not SH is tied to his hip for the long run.

 

[Seton75]

Very stupid question to ask a player, that's the stock answer. What if Sha was elevated to head coach? Or Tiny? SMH.

Really. I cant remember anyone ever answering that question in that manner. Maybe I just wasn't paying attn.

 

[Piratefan2009]

KW - luv him or not SH is tied to his hip for the long run.

Scared to know what this means. Long run is pretty subjective. I'd be fine with him having another 2-3 years guaranteed at this point.

If he has truly "put the program on an upswing", we'll see it this year and next year and can all pray at the alter of Willard together.

If we see performance like the first few years, there won't be many Willard supporters left to blame Gonzo or talk about how long it takes to program build, etc. If he ends up going 9 or 10 years with one tourney showing the case is pretty well made Willard + SHU is not a good fit.

 

[lloyde dobler]

It's possible that Carrington wasn't asked that question.... He could have given that answer in a response to something else, or to a broader question.

 

[Piratz]

Willard had a great season. NCAA berths and Big East Tournament titles do not come around here often, lol.

The leadership was the biggest issue. Willard had two teams in his first five seasons nationally ranked and then they imploded. Last year we saw leadership. We saw benching, we saw some discipline. It made all the difference. Something changed in him; woke him up. Maybe it was being nearly fired and going through the process of having to even consider other options.

Coaches are like players; sometimes it "clicks". Look at Tom Coughlin and the Giants, for example. We certainly invested a lot of time and resources into Willard. Good for him, good for Lyons, good for us. Onward and upward from here. They do not give out lifetime contracts and this is a new year. Need to advance in the NCAA's. It's going to be at least 13 years between NCAA wins.

 

[anon_4htvdezyfe7k9]

I've been a KW supporter up until the disaster that was the '14-'15 season but just playing devil's advocate, could his sudden 180 in his approach not have been a function of being on the chopping block as opposed to him having an actual epiphany? I'm back in his corner but I personally need to see how this coming season and recruiting class plays out before I'm 100% confident that he's going turn the ship around.

 

[Woah Bundy]

I think it's maturing on the coaches part as well. When KW took this job he was just about to turn 35 and outside of his brief stint at Iona had spent his entire career under Rick Pitino or his father. Suddenly he's thrown into the deep end of the old Big East and we all know what happened.

Now, six years later, he's a grizzled 41 that has seen what is necessary to compete with the big boys and run a successful program. He seems like a smart man, I don't think he'll revert back after he tasted success last year. And that's not even accounting for how Sha and Lyons have matured in their positions alongside him. As another poster mentioned defense is the thing with this coach. If he can keep it top 30ish consistently we'll really have something here.

 

[Piratz]

I agree, WB. I think there was definitely some on-the-job training here, even if some ardent Willard supporters didn't want to hear that 2-3 years ago.

 

[hallgrad80]

Better Talent + One Impact Player + Better Control of the Team / Players + Better Coaching Decisions = Highly Successful Season is the formula that worked this past season. The really good coaches are the ones who use that formula season after season to have the consistency you want in your program. KW should be recognized , along with his staff, for the results they produced last year but it's still remains to be seen if this program can produce similar results over a multi-year time span. I would just add that KW has a damn good idea of what it takes to be successful especially after the collapse in the 2014/2015 season and the highly successful 2015/2016 season and I believe he learned a lot from them which leads me to be optimistic that our program is trending the right way.

 

[Piratz]

Will you be off the bandwagon if next year they have a bad year????? How about a mediocre year? How about they do not make the NCAA Tournament???? Will you be solidly in his corner?

If that kind of implosion occurs, we'll be right back to where we were a year ago.

Progress has been made. Now it needs to be sustained.

 

[sportsfantatic44]

Lyons stuck w/Willard because he was owed between $2.5 and 3 million and SHU wasn't eating that money and then paying a new coach on top of that. That's the reason he got another year. Whitehead and Delgado never would have left if he got fired. That's nonsense.

With that being said, Willard did a hell of a job last year and team vastly over achieved anyone's expectations. There is no reason to think why this team shouldn't be in the mix for another NCAA bid this season. What I also like is this team looks to have a lot of depth which was missing his first 4 years here. We should be able to go 9-10 deep which you need in league play.

 

[Piratefan2009]

With that being said, Willard did a hell of a job last year and team vastly over achieved anyone's expectations. There is no reason to think why this team shouldn't be in the mix for another NCAA bid this season.

Agree with everything other than this. We are discussing right now whether we will have a starting line up reliant on freshman guards next year. Yes there is now a returning lineup with mostly upperclassmen, but it's not like there aren't concerns with some of those positions.

3. DR is the man, but he definitely had issues with disappearing last season (not being involved in plays, not scoring much), not to mention the issues with attitude.

4. Ish was dominant on the glass and on defense, but his offensive production was nonexistent (not to mention not needed) on last year's team. If he or Nzei hasn't built up some sort of offensive game we are going to be in trouble.

5. The position I'm worried least about. Nothing to say about Delgado. He's a Beast who loves to Feast on both ends. There isn't much behind him at this point unless Carter has been trained this summer or Rashed took some major steps.

Without IW, the whole team needs to change. KC is not IW, and I mean that in the sense that he has his own skill set and own moves. It's going to have to be more of a team game next year, which means better handles at other key positions, and definitely more even scoring. I would say I'm most concerned about the guard situation, but there are plenty of reasons to question whether we are a tournament team this year. I think we'll know by half way through the OOC like most years.

 

[ironlung75]

What I find frustrating is the looks that many schools get from really qualified big 4's and 6'10"+ 5's consistently every year. It seems like everybody we end up with are SG's and SF's although we have a bunch of guys in the 6'8" / 6'9" range. Just not big bulk and height on the glass. I don't think Thompson was a superstar by any measure, but he was who we were after. This is an area we need to work on. Also we are a PG's heaven, but we seem to get passed by. We create great PG's that get noticed in the BE. Even IW wasn't a real PG. after one year he was one of the best, better than several recruited in front of him. That is another area we really need to work on. Between Kevin, Sha and Fred we need to see more in this area. The ships work out.

 

[Seton75]

Fanatic, I don't think we would have had mass transfers. Certainly Isaiah would have stayed. What impressed me about KC's statement was the support for the coach it showed. Yeah, you can never be sure if it was bs or truth. But it struck me as very positive. At that point, most of us had wanted kw gone. So KC's statement hit me hard.

 

[anon_4htvdezyfe7k9]

Fanatic, I don't think we would have had mass transfers. Certainly Isaiah would have stayed. What impressed me about KC's statement was the support for the coach it showed. Yeah, you can never be sure if it was bs or truth. But it struck me as very positive. At that point, most of us had wanted kw gone. So KC's statement hit me hard.

KC has always appeared to be tight with Willard. It was pretty evident just observing from afar, between interactions on the sidelines, after games, the lobster fra diavlo PR event, etc. He may have transferred, but depending on who would have replaced KW (my guess would be Sha), I doubt there would have beena mass exodus.

 

[Piratefan2009]

I don't think anyone is saying we should have a consistent stream of top 100 big man talent every year. We aren't that good yet. Not to mention you don't need that level of talent to make the tournament every year or two. You need consistent hard workers with an appropriate level of talent. Get the top 100-175 flying under the Kentucky radar kids who have hustle. There isn't that much difference between number 75 and number 125. That gap can also be erased with a better game plan and better coaching.