Career
He took over Iona from Jeff Ruland on April 10, 2007. After inheriting a program that was 10th to last in the Ratings Percentage Index (RPI), the Gaels improved to a Top 80 RPI in 2009-2010, the highest turnaround over the timespan in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I. After completing the turnaround, Willard accepted a head coaching position in the Big East with Seton Hall University on March 28, 2010. Willard came to Iona after spending ten years as an assistant under Rick Pitino.
He started his coaching career in the National Basketball Association ranks, working on the bench with the Boston Celtics.
After Pitino resigned from the Celtics in 2001, Willard followed him to Louisville, and spent the next six years as an assistant there. Willard played basketball at Western Kentucky during the 1992-1993 season (his freshman year) before transferring to Pittsburgh to finish his career.