|
 It's
official.
Maryland's
Kevin Willard, who was getting around $4 million a year at Maryland, turned
down Maryland's offer of around $6 million a year to bolt for Villanova.
Maryland
president Darryll Pines released a statement confirming Willard's departure
Sunday morning stating,"Earlier today, Kevin Willard officially
announced he would be stepping down as the head coach of our Men's Basketball
program to accept another position." Pines added, "We took a very
proactive and aggressive approach to retain Coach Willard, offering a
significant contract extension and salary increase, new staff, and one of the
highest revenue-share budgets in the B1G Conference. We had long and thoughtful
conversations about the program and shared the same vision for Maryland
Basketball. In the end, he made the choice that he felt was best for him and
his family."
Villanova's
athletic director Eric Roedl in his statement said, "Coach Willard is an
outstanding leader of young men and brings extensive experience and success
as a head coach to Villanova. We are excited about the future of Villanova
basketball under his leadership."
Contract
terms were not announced nor will they be as Villanova is a private Catholic
university and not required to do so.
Shortly
thereafter, Villanova's Office of Financial Assistance issued a statement
indicating that they have effective immediately raised their tuition and fees
by 250%, raising their current annual cost of attendance from $93,000 to
$250,000 a year. Also, all educational scholarships are cancelled
retroactively to 1985, which means some of you need to pay us back. Athletic
scholarships are cancelled as well, except for basketball.
That's
not really true except for the fact that their current actual cost of
attendance is $93,000 and that Villanova has already raised next year's
costs, not by 250%, but enough to put them over $100,000 a year.
Better
pass that collection plate around a second time.
|