Goodman: Holy Cross Coach Leaning Towards Joining Pitino At Louisville

Holy Cross head coach Ralph Willard is leaning towards joining his long-time friend, Rick Pitino, on his staff at Louisville.

According to a source close to the situation, Willard is expected to meet with his players on Monday night and make a decision shortly thereafter – perhaps as early as Tuesday.

One source said the meeting with the players could ultimately change his mind, but that right now Willard is set to leave and become Pitino’s associate head coach.

Willard, 63, worked briefly with Pitino in the NBA with the New York Knicks from 1987-89 and also went with him to Kentucky in 1989.

Willard spent four years as a head coach at Western Kentucky and five seasons at Pittsburgh before taking the Holy Cross job in 1999.

Willard, a Holy Cross alum, has led the Crusaders to four NCAA tournaments in his decade at the helm and a 192-120 overall mark. Holy Cross was 18-14 last season and returns a team that could be favored to win the Patriot League this year.

Pitino has reached out to Willard in the past when he’s had an opening on his staff at Louisville without success. However, Willard has had health issues over the past few years – prostate cancer in 2005 and heart issues in 2008 – that may have changed his mindset.

Hat tip to John Clay’s Twitter page on this one…