First it was Roy Williams. Then Coach K walked away from the game. Now Jay Wright is joining them. The Villanova head coach is retiring.
Wright announced his retirement earlier this week. The 60-year-old is walking away after leading the Wildcats to another Final Four this last season.
“Now, though, it’s time for us to enter a new era of Villanova basketball,” he said. “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 Father Peter, Mark and the rest of the leadership team.
“Once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat!”
It’s still hard to believe he’s walking away, especially considering Villanova was having so much success lately.
However, Wright revealed during a press conference on Friday he simply lost motivation for coaching.
“I just didn’t have the edge that I’ve always had,” he explained. “The edge always came natural to me.”
“I just didn’t have the edge that I’ve always had. The edge always came natural to me.”
Said he had to get himself “fired up” not motivate himself
“You’re either 100% in or you’re against us.” https://t.co/CJ1zfZcYkf
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) April 22, 2022
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There’s also been speculation the changing landscape of college basketball is factoring into coaching decisions.
The transfer portal and NIL have become headaches for head coaches, especially those who rely on continuity.
Wright admitted the current state of the sport played a small factor in his decision to retire.
Jay says the Transfer Portal and NIL factored into his decision “Not a lot” but “a little”
Says his assts are ‘visionary’ about NIL and Transfer stuff whereas he’s the coach “who has to keep up with it”
Good question by @MikeSielski https://t.co/bpqSN6whtI
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) April 22, 2022
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Wright’s out. Villanova will now turn to Kyle Neptune in a new era of Wildcats basketball.