Willard Leaves the Cross

[HoyaNCCT]

Ralph Willard heads to Louisville to be an assistant to Pitino. Leaves his alma mater and our fellow Jesuit institution, Holy Cross, after 10 years and 5 post seasons...

[guru]

Could be a good landing spot for Coach Burke.

[2ndRyan]

like another ex-Holy Cross coach George Blaney at UConn, Willard perhaps becomes the calming second fiddle to his flamboyant boss.

[DanMcQ]

sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=4253881&name=katz_andy

Holy Cross will begin its close examination of candidates hoping to replace Ralph Willard, who left to be Rick Pitino's assistant at Louisville, over the next few days. Holy Cross athletic director Dick Regan would like someone who has head-coaching experience, although he's not limiting his search to only previous head coaches. Regan said he wants to keep the Crusaders' team together, and he anticipates that with four starters back and a banner recruiting class they can contend for the Patriot League title next season. He doesn't want to disrupt that mojo with the new hire.