With 2 national titles in his suit pocket, Villanova’s Jay Wright retires

PHILADELPHIA — Jay Wright shocked school basketball Wednesday night with his rapid resignation at Villanova, the Significant East method he led to two countrywide championships and 4 Ultimate Fours in a Hall of Fame profession.

The 60-12 months-old Wright guided Villanova to titles in 2016 and 2018 and just led the Wildcats to the Closing Four, wherever they lost to national champion Kansas. He went 520-197 in 21 seasons at the university and 642-282 all round, also coaching Hofstra from 1994–2001.

“It’s time for us to enter a new period of Villanova basketball,” Wright reported in a statement. “After 35 many years in coaching, I am proud and thrilled to hand over the reins to Villanova’s upcoming mentor. I am enthusiastic to remain a element of Villanova and seem forward to operating with (Villanova) and the relaxation of the management team.”

Kyle Neptune, who served on the Villanova coaching workers in advance of accepting the head coaching position at Fordham in 2021, returned to swap Wright.

“When searching for a successor, we wished a applicant who could navigate the transforming landscape of collegiate athletics and preserve Villanova in a situation of toughness — now and in the long term,” Villanova athletic director Mark Jackson explained. “After assembly with numerous exceptional candidates, we found all those attributes and additional in Kyle Neptune. Kyle quickly stood out for his basketball awareness, recruiting savvy and organic skill to connect with university student-athletes and coaches.”

Wright’s selection was sudden and there was no fast term the transfer was health and fitness connected or that he was leaving for the NBA. He was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Corridor of Fame in 2021.

Wright will remain at Villanova and stay included in fundraising, advising, training and far more.

He joined North Carolina’s Roy Williams and Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski as the 3rd mentor with multiple championship to step down around the very last two yrs.

In advance of he arrived, Villanova was recognised for upsetting Georgetown in the 1985 countrywide championship activity and the occasional journey to the NCAA Match.

Wright essential a few yrs to create a foundation ahead of Villanova broke via with a journey to the 2005 Sweet 16. An Elite Eight overall look adopted the upcoming year and the Wildcats reached the Final Four in 2009.

Villanova received its initially national title below Wright in 2016 on Kris Jenkins’ buzzer-beater and decimated the NCAA Match field in 2018, winning every video game by double digits on its way to the nationwide title.

He was picked AP mentor of the decade in 2020.

The 37-12 months-previous Neptune was on Wright’s staff for the 2009 Remaining 4 group. He went 16-16 in his lone period at Fordham.

“I am proud and enthusiastic to hand above the reins to a member of our basketball relatives, Kyle Neptune. I am psyched to stay a element of Villanova,” Wright explained.

Wright’s final decision will come soon after one more effective time:

— He reached 25 or more victories for the 10th time in his 22 seasons.

— The Wildcats have won a regular-year or postseason convention championship in just about every of the 9 seasons because the Huge East reconfigured in 2013.

— The Wildcats gained a No. 1 or No. 2 seed in the NCAA Event for the eighth time under Wright.

During Wright’s tenure, he coached a number of long run NBA stars, like Kyle Lowry, Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, and Saddiq Bey.

“Ohhhhhhh thats tough !!! @kyleneptune Nicely DESERVED,” Bridges, now a star with the Phoenix Suns, tweeted.

Wright was employed as head mentor at Hofstra and went 207-122 with two NCAA Tournament appearances in seven seasons. Employed in 2001 to exchange Steve Lappas, the Wildcats went to the NIT in Wright’s initially 3 seasons.

“Simply a remarkable job,” reported former Villanova Ad Vince Nicastro, who hired Wright. “Will be regarded as just one of the very best coaches in school basketball heritage – and even much better individual. Has gained with integrity, course and grace. And has served as a excellent role product for his players and colleagues.”

The Wildcats completed 30-8 this season and Wright’s final video game was an 81-65 loss to Kansas in the Final Four.

Wright, a Churchville, Pennsylvania indigenous, played higher education basketball at Bucknell and begun as an assistant at Rochester and Drexel. He expended five seasons at Villanova as Rollie Massimino’s assistant, then followed him to UNLV for yet another two many years just before using the head coaching job at Hofstra in 1994.

He rejected many NBA and other faculty overtures via the many years and remained steadfast in his dedication to the Wildcats. Wright experienced stints coaching teams in the Pan American Online games and Environment College Video games and served as an assistant mentor under San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich for Group Usa.

Wright was scheduled to discuss his selection at a press conference on Friday.