SAN ANTONIO -- Before taking the Villanova job this past weekend, Kevin Willard had a phone conversation with Jay Wright from the back of Willard’s deck.

Three days after officially becoming Villanova’s head coach, Kevin Willard spoke Wednesday with reporters on Zoom. Willard has had a busy few days. He traveled Monday to Indianapolis to watch the women’s team play in a WBIT semifinal,

One of the deciders in the process was none other than Jay Wright, Willard’s former adversary over a decade coaching at Seton Hall. After formal conversations with university President Rev. Peter Donohue and athletic director Eric Roedl, Willard fired up the old Big East phone tree Saturday night.