Seton Hall Pirates Men's Basketball Head Coach

When it comes to college basketball, there are few programs as storied as the Seton Hall Pirates. And at the helm of this historic program is none other than Kevin Willard, who has been the men's basketball head coach since 2010. In this article, we will dive deep into Willard's background, coaching philosophy, and his impact on the Seton Hall basketball program.

Kevin Willard's Early Life and Career

Born on December 18, 1975, Kevin Willard has basketball in his blood. His father, Ralph Willard, was a successful college basketball coach who spent time at Pitt, Holy Cross, and Louisville. Willard played high school ball in Connecticut before going on to play at Western Kentucky University.

After a brief stint playing overseas, Willard entered the coaching ranks as an assistant at Holy Cross under his father. He would go on to work as an assistant at a number of schools including Louisville, Iona, and Virginia before getting his first head coaching job at Iona in 2007.

Coaching Philosophy

Willard's coaching philosophy centers around a few key principles. First and foremost, he emphasizes the importance of defense. His teams are known for their aggressive, hard-nosed defense that makes life difficult for opposing offenses.

Offensively, Willard's teams focus on ball movement and teamwork. He believes that everyone on the court needs to be involved in the offense and that no one player should dominate the ball. This philosophy has led to Seton Hall being one of the most efficient offensive teams in the country over the past few years.

Seton Hall Tenure

Related Basketball

Seton Hall Pirates Men'S Basketball Players Celebrating

Willard took over the reins at Seton Hall in 2010 and it didn't take long for him to make an impact. In just his second season at the helm, he led the Pirates to a 21-13 record and their first NCAA tournament appearance since 2006.

Since then, Willard has established himself as one of the top coaches in the Big East. The Pirates have made five NCAA tournament appearances under Willard and have won at least 20 games in each of the past four seasons.

The 2019-2020 Season

Seton Hall Pirates Men'S Basketball Players In Action

The 2019-2020 season was a memorable one for Seton Hall and Willard. Led by senior guard Myles Powell, the Pirates won the Big East regular-season title and were expected to make a deep run in the NCAA tournament before the season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite the abrupt end to the season, Willard was named the Big East Coach of the Year for the second time in his career. His ability to get the most out of his players and develop them over the course of a season was a key factor in the team's success.

Conclusion

Kevin Willard has established himself as one of the top coaches in college basketball over the past decade. His emphasis on defense and team-oriented offense has led to success not only at Seton Hall but throughout his coaching career. With a talented young team returning next season, there's no reason to believe that Willard's success at Seton Hall won't continue for years to come.