VILLANOVA, Pa. - Legendary Villanova men’s basketball coach Jay Wright will discuss his retirement during a Friday morning press conference where a long-time assistant of his will be introduced as his successor.
The news of Wright’s retirement broke on Wednesday night and he soon confirmed his decision with a brief statement on social media. "It's time for us to enter a new era of Villanova basketball," Wright said in a statement. "After 35 years in coaching, I am proud and excited to hand over the reins to Villanova's next coach.
I am excited to remain a part of Villanova and look forward to working with (Villanova) and the rest of the leadership team."Kyle Neptune, who served on the Villanova coaching staff before accepting the head coaching position at Fordham in 2021, returned to replace Wright."When looking for a successor, we wanted a candidate who could navigate the changing landscape of collegiate athletics and keep Villanova in a position of strength — now and in the future," Villanova athletic director Mark Jackson said. "After meeting with several exceptional candidates, we found all those attributes and more in Kyle Neptune.
Kyle quickly stood out for his basketball knowledge, recruiting savvy and natural ability to connect with student-athletes and coaches."Wright’s decision was unexpected and there was no immediate word the move was health related or that he was leaving for the NBA.