Worcester, MA -- (Sports Network) - Holy Cross named Sean Kearney its new head men's basketball coach on Thursday.

Kearney, who becomes the 15th head coach in the history of the program, replaces Ralph Willard who resigned last month. Willard, who compiled a 192-117 record at Holy Cross over the previous 10 years, left to join Rick Pitino's staff at Louisville.

That opened a spot for Kearney, who gained his first collegiate head coaching position. Kearney comes to Holy Cross from Notre Dame, where he served as associate head coach for the last nine years under Mike Brey.

"I have been extremely fortunate to have worked with some great head coaches in my career and none more important than Mike Brey in these last 14 seasons," said Kearney. "I am especially proud of both my work at Notre Dame and the relationships that I have built there. It is a special place and my family and I have invested quite a bit in that community. I look forward to taking over the reins of the Crusader program from coach Ralph Willard and am well aware of his team's successes over his tenure."