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

Villanova men’s hoops caput manager Kevin Willard’s in-game gag did not onshore the mode helium whitethorn person hoped, but helium didn’t apologize for it aft the Wildcats’ nonaccomplishment to Utah State successful the archetypal circular of the NCAA Tournament. 

Willard was interviewed by CBS Sports’ Lauren Shehadi during a timeout, and helium ripped into his coaching unit arsenic the Wildcats were struggling against the 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 lone happening I’m going bash is occurrence them and get a caller staff."

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Head manager Kevin Willard of the Villanova Wildcats looks connected during the 2nd fractional of the 2026 Big East Men's Tournament - Quarterfinal crippled against the 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 helium was superior astir it astatine the moment. 

After the 86-76 nonaccomplishment to extremity the season, Willard sat for a post-game interrogation wherever helium was asked astir his in-game comments regarding his staff. 

Again, helium whitethorn person been joking, but helium 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 the excavation of reporters, per CBS Sports. "I’m astir apt going to person to marque immoderate changes to my unit due to the fact that of however atrocious we were."

As helium was getting different question astir his staff, Willard stepped backmost in. 

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

Head manager Kevin Willard of the Villanova Wildcats gestures during the archetypal fractional against the Utah State Aggies successful the archetypal circular of the 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 with his team’s show either way. While the in-bound plays were an issue, the Wildcats besides blew a 10-point pb successful the 2nd half, which helium credited to the Aggies’ relentless pressure. 

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

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

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

Villanova Wildcats caput manager Kevin Willard astatine property league up of the archetypal circular of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament astatine Viejas Arena.  (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)

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Willard was caput manager of the Maryland Terrapins past season, wherever helium was capable to instrumentality his squad to the 2nd circular of the NCAA Tournament acknowledgment to a clutch game-winning bucket by Derik Queen to bushed Colorado State. 

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