Maryland coach Kevin Willard says there's 'no situation" between him, Damon Evans
Fresh off leading Maryland basketball to an 81-49 win over Grand Canyon in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday, Terrapins coach Kevin Willard was again asked about the state of his program.
Willard, who has been rumored to be a candidate for the Villanova vacancy after it fired Kyle Neptune last week, said Thursday he already addressed the coaching rumors with his team. He then mentioned contract negotiations to stay at Maryland, although he subtly seemed to confirm Maryland's athletic director Damon Evans leaving the school to fill SMU's vacancy throwing a wrench in negotiations.
Evans has since been announced as SMU's next athletic director.
Willard made it clear he would want to make a few changes to his potential contract extension as Maryland fights to keep its coach. Among those changes is an increased name, image and likeness (NIL) budget, which he noted Thursday.
Willard said there was no situation with Evans, amid Maryland appearing to have to fight off other schools for Willard's services this offseason.
"There's no situation," Willard said. "The only situation is you guys and Twitter. And I can't control you guys and I can't control Twitter so. I've talked to these guys, they know what's going on. I've been open with them, I've been honest with them, they know exactly what's going on. Whatever I say you're gonna write whatever you wanna say anyways. This is a waste of my time. We have a website that might as well be TMZ. So, I can't do anything about it, I can't do anything about Twitter, I can't do anything about what's going on.
"We were focused, I'm excited to be here. I'm excited to beat these guys. There's nothing else to talk about. You guys just write whatever the hell you wanna write, I don't give a (expletive), I really don't. .... I'll probably get a letter from the (NCAA) on that one."
Willard mentioned Thursday that he wasn't able to stay in New York City an extra day to celebrate Christmas with the team because of budget constraints. He also said he's hopeful a contract with Maryland can get done.
CBS Sports' Jon Rothstein reported on March 16 the program was working on a new contract with Willard. However, it's unclear if those plans were impacted by Evans' departure.
"I didn't say anything that's false," Willard continued. "I had the same conversation with these guys. My job to the University of Maryland, to the season ticket holders, to my donors, is to make it the best it can be. And I live it, eat it, sleep it every day. I get in the office every day around 6 (a.m.). I don't leave until they leave. So, this is my life. I'm 49 years old, I wanna be coaching for another 15 years. So, my job is my passion.
"And if something's not better and I have an opportunity to make it better, I'm gonna make it better. And really the only way to do it in college athletics is to put it in your contract. Because if not they're gonna lie to you. They're gonna sit there and say, 'We're gonna do this we're gonna do that.' And the next thing you know, they don't. Unless it's in your contract, they don't do it. And that's just the way that I understand it. I know how to play the game. I want it in my contract and I wanna make sure my program is the best it can be. For me, for my staff, and most importantly for these guys. So, I'm gonna fight for it every day."
Maryland will next play on Sunday in the second round against No. 12 seed Colorado State.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Maryland coach Kevin Willard: 'No situation" between him, Damon Evans
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