Kevin Willard walked to the microphone as Seton Hall's new men's basketball coach and spoke about being a family man and how humbled he was taking over the Pirates' program.
He talked about character, focus and hard work, how the team was more important than the individual.
Those are key words at Seton Hall these days.
After a year of player problems on and off the court - along with a volatile coach - Willard's first task is to polish the Pirates' image. The job of going to the NCAA tournament or winning the Big East Conference will come later.
``We don't have an easy job ahead of us, but we have a great opportunity in such a wonderful university that I can't wait,'' Willard said Wednesday in addressing about 200 fans who attended the news conference to officially announce his hiring and that of Anne Donovan as the new women's basketball coach.
Seton Hall officials declared Willard a future superstar in the college coaching ranks, but the school also hired a no-nonsense coach who won't bring in potential troublemakers to play for him.
Recently fired coach Bobby Gonzalez brought in some questionable players in his four years and it blew up this past season when two were arrested. Coupled with Gonzalez's antics on the court, it led to his dismissal after a 19-win season.
Willard seems to be the other end of the spectrum. The 34-year-old is a down to earth basketball junkie who doesn't focus on himself.
``This program will be built on three simple keys of life: character, focus and hard work,'' Willard said. ``Everything else will be fun, will be passionate. We will play a great style of basketball that the fans and alumni will enjoy going to.
``Every player that comes in will want to play for Seton Hall University,'' Willard added. ``They are going to have pride, show pride and that the name across their chest means more than the names on their backs.''
Willard, who turned around Iona's program in three seasons, insisted great programs are built with good people.
``We want to recruit character, kids that want to come to get a great education and have a great basketball experience,'' he said. ``You can do all that, all three of those. It doesn't have to be one or the other.''
Willard interviewed with the university on Thursday and came back for a second interview on Saturday, when he met with Monsignor Robert Sheeran, the university president.
After that meeting Sheeran said four words to Patrick Hobbs, the law school dean who has been overseeing the athletics department since July.
``Make him an offer,'' Hobbs recalled.
Hobbs did and Willard quickly spoke by telephone to his wife, Julie.
``You know I don't think we've been to New Jersey before, but I think we're coming to New Jersey,'' he told her.
On the surface, Willard inherits a solid team that went 19-13 this past season, losing in the first round of the NIT.
However, guard Jeremy Hazell and forwards Jeff Robinson and Herb Pope - the team's top three scorers and rebounders - all said in the past week that they intend to enter the NBA draft.
``The first team that hasn't won a national championship and it's got three guys going to the pros,'' Willard said, drawing laughter from the crowd in Walsh Gymnasium.
If the three decide to withdraw their names before the deadline next month, Willard said they would be welcomed back.
If they don't, Willard is going to have to work hard to get some good players.
``There is still a lot of talent out there, especially in the state,'' said Willard, who was mentored for a decade by Rick Pitino. ``We might have to be a little creative, depending on what happens with these three guys, but we have options. I want to give these kids their chance.''
Like Gonzalez, Willard runs an up tempo offense and a pressing defense. He also stresses half-court defense.
``You have to defend,'' Willard said. ``Some nights you won't have it (offensively). It's a little different philosophy. We will defend every time on the half-court. You can't make every shot, but you can defend every time.''
Willard's top assistant, Shaheen Holloway, the Pirates' all-time assists leader, will return to South Orange. Willard also plans to hire former Seton Hall players Grant Billmeier and Marcus Toney-El.
