Kevin Willard is bolting Maryland to become the Villanova head coach after an ugly saga in which the 49-year-old openly griped about aspects of the program during the team’s March Madness run. The Terrapins, a No. 4 seed, were eliminated by No. 1 Florida in the Sweet 16 on Thursday, and Villanova announced the hiring of Willard on Sunday.

With Kevin Willard leaving Maryland to become the next men’s basketball coach at Villanova, the Terrapins have embarked on a search to fill the vacancy that opened only days after the end of a resurgent season in which they reached the NCAA tournament’s Sweet 16 for the first time in nine years.

Matt Norlander's latest look at the coaching carousel, where Willard's messy exit has left Maryland working fast

Maryland named Texas A&M head coach Buzz Williams to the same post on Tuesday, two days after former Terrapins head coach Kevin Willard was named to the same position at Villanova.

It is an honor and privilege to be named the head coach of the University of Maryland men’s basketball team,” Williams said in a statement. “I promise to uphold the history of Maryland basketball and make Terp Nation proud with the men who represent this institution.

Villanova hired Maryland's Kevin Willard as its new coach Sunday to replace the fired Kyle Neptune. Willard had been linked to the Villanova job throughout the NCAA Tournament, where the Terrapins earned a No.