By Chris O’Grady

This past season, the University of Louisville made an attention-calling coaching hire, acquiring a coach with 38 years of experience who has guided teams to six NCAA tournaments and three NIT births. U of L hired Coach Ralph Willard as an assistant coach for the men’s basketball team.
Wooed this offseason from his alma mater, College of the Holy Cross, Willard will be an influential addition to a team trying to repeat the success of last year’s Elite Eight finish. Willard leaves a Holy Cross team that he has led to four league titles in 10 years. But working with Rick Pitino, U of L men’s head coach, had been a plan years in the making. Willard was formerly an assistant on Pitino’s staff for the New York Knicks, as well as the University of Kentucky Wildcats.
“The fact is that Coach Pitino and I had talked about working together for a long time now, and this was probably the last time it would work out for both of us,” said Willard. “I was leaving a great team with great kids, but with Rich [former assistant Richard Pitino] leaving for Florida, this was about the only time it would work.”
For many coaches, reaching the top job at their alma mater is the pinnacle of their careers, the place they settle in forever. But, for Willard, the transfer to U of L suggested he had accomplished all he could at the Patriot League school.
“It was very, very hard,” said Willard. “But we had reached a certain level as a mid-major where no one wants to play you. It was getting almost impossible to schedule.”
Willard’s main goal was to leave Holy Cross in the best shape possible, as he still wanted them to succeed. It was no longer possible, with Willard as a head coach, for the school to schedule games that would benefit the players, because of their repeated success. Since his departure, Holy Cross has been able to fill the schedule with quality teams.
This partnership of Willard and Pitino may soon grace the list of the game’s most legendary tandems, as the two seem to have complementary styles.
“He is kind of like a mediator for Coach Pitino,” said freshman guard Mike Marra.  “He’s a real chill guy, not a yeller like Coach Pitino can be. He’ll just tell you what to do, not get all crazy. You can just tell if he’s disappointed in you.”
Willard believes that they work well together because of their shared history.
“It’s so great that we have the same philosophy about the game of basketball, and about teaching,” said Willard.  “We’ve had an ongoing relationship for the last 35 years, so no feelings interfere; it’s just another point of view for us.”
Willard’s more relaxed style of coaching has had numerous benefits for the team, especially for the younger players. Many light up, with evident excitement, to talk about Coach Willard’s impact on their game.
“He is really hands-on,” said sophomore forward Jared Swopshire. “He’s been there for all the workouts and through the off season. He always has lots of tips, especially from an offensive standpoint. He knows a lot of big work and post moves.”
Other players attribute Willard’s significant impact to his experience in the field.
“He’s just a very smart coach, the smartest I’ve ever met,” said freshman forward Rakeem Buckles.  “He brings a lot to the table, with the experience he has with technique.”
Having been a head coach for the last 19 seasons, the transition back to an assistant position naturally took some adjusting. But the relationship between the two coaches made it an easy one.
“There are times when you’re used to being the guy,” said Willard.  “I obviously couldn’t do it if it wasn’t for the long and deep relationship I have with Rick.”
Having such a knowledgeable figure on the sidelines will benefit Pitino from an assistant standpoint, but also could pay huge dividends for the entire team this season.
“He’s just a real cool coach, real laid back,” said freshman point guard Peyton Siva.  “It’s like having two head coaches.”
Known as one of the best basketball minds in the game, Coach Willard will work to bring increased success to the Cardinals. With such high expectations for the season, Willard is just taking it one game at a time.
“I try to never look ahead,” said Willard. “I just try to take care of doing the best job here in Louisville with the kids that are here. I leave it to the big guy upstairs to make plans.”