The Villanova Wildcats wasted no time in choosing their next head basketball coach after Jay Wright’s retirement announcement on Wednesday.
Fordham head coach Kyle Neptune, who spent 10 seasons as a video coordinator/assistant coach under Wright, has officially been named the program’s next leader.
Neptune took his first head coaching gig with Fordham prior to the 2021-22 season.
After the news broke, former Villanova star/current Phoenix Suns starter Mikal Bridges took to Twitter to congratulate his old assistant coach.
“Ohhhhhhh thats tough !!! @kyleneptune WELL DESERVED,” he wrote.
Ohhhhhhh thats tough !!! @kyleneptune WELL DESERVED
— Mikal Bridges (@mikal_bridges) April 20, 2022
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Neptune was on Wright’s staff for each of Bridges’ three seasons with the Wildcats — including two National Championship victories (2016, 2018). Bridges is now one of the NBA’s elite 3-and-D players, finishing as a top pick for defensive player of the year this past season.
Neptune began his career as video coordinator for Villanova from 2008-10. After a short stint as an assistant for Niagara (2010-13), he returned to the Wildcats’ bench as an assistant from 2013-21.
Neptune, 37, is expected to take the podium for his introductory press conference on Friday morning.