Most parents are proud to see their children follow in their professional footsteps. The new head coach of the Villanova University men’s basketball team, Kevin Willard, is no exception.
A Closer Look at Kevin Willard’s Family
Willard and his wife, Julie Wagner, have two sons. The oldest, Colin, is 18 and was born in 2006, while the youngest, Chase, is 16 and was born in 2008.
Judging by a recent family photo, both Colin and Chase are developing good stature, a very desirable element for those who wish to play basketball at any level.
All indications are that both of Willard’s sons are involved in some way with the sport that made their father famous. However, there are no details about their junior careers, nor as to whether they intend to play at the collegiate level.
It is not surprising that both Willard boys have an interest in sports, considering that their father has dedicated his professional life to basketball. But the athletic DNA also comes from their mother’s side, as Wagner is also involved in the world of sports.
Kevin Willard’s wife is a golf teaching professional who worked at Wildcat Creek Golf Course in Kokomo, Indiana. She also served as head coach of the Wesleyan University golf program.
Willard began his collegiate basketball career as a player, playing one season for Western Kentucky and three for Pittsburgh, always with his father, Ralph, as coach.
After that, Willard threw himself into a coaching career, landing a job as an assistant with the NBA’s Boston Celtics the same year he graduated. He stayed there for four years before returning to NCAA basketball, where he has had his greatest success.
In 2001, he became an assistant coach with the Louisville Cardinals in the Atlantic Coast Conference of NCAA Division I. Six years later, in 2007, he finally accepted a head coaching position with Iona University.
Willard went on to work at Seton Hall and Maryland before accepting the position at Villanova.
His major career accomplishments include winning the Big East Conference Championship with Seton Hall in 2016 and the regular season title in the same conference in 2020, also at the helm of the Pirates.
He has been named conference Coach of the Year twice, in 2010 with Iona in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and in 2016 with Seton Hall in the Big East Conference.
KEEP READING: 2025 Men’s College Basketball Transfer Portal Tracker
He has coached in 11 NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament games, winning four and losing seven.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
