Villanova Willard Intro Presser
- Thread starter NYShoreGuy
- Start date
We live in strange times. What a bizarre sight seeing KW coaching Nova.
Totally. Not the sort of thing I imagine he imagined years ago either.
Best of luck to Coach Willard, unless he's playing us. Don't know that it will ever feel right to me watching him stand on the visitor's sideline, but it is what it is. I will say I'm surprised he cut Nardi loose of his own decision. The tradition, the continuity, and the talent wrapped up in Nardi seemed like an obvious "retain" to me.
His rationale was that with things in such flux now, he wanted to keep the recruiting and coaching/player development continuity of the guys he's been working with rather than start with a whole new cast.
It has always seemed to me like Nardi was very lightly regarded at Villanova, never being given too much responsibility (his short stint as interim head coach for a pointless postseason tournament notwithstanding).
That’s true. He’s well liked but not respected enough. Needs to get a HC job at a lower level and prove himself. Now that he’s on the market don’t be surprised if he goes that route. Had heard he was hoping Fairfield job was going to open up.
Have to say the NOVA vs SHU battles when Willard got it rolling were usually very intense. We didn’t win as many as we would have liked but that was mostly due to the talent disparity. But when we did get those Ws it was sweet.
For the most part they were great games and typically in high leverage spots. Plus a few blowouts in Philly, lol!
The BET games in 2014, 2016, 2017, and 2019 all epic.
Willard's going to take the kid from Temple we like since we couldn't close the deal. Unreal.
