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To everyone’s shock, multiple reports confirmed Wednesday night that long-time Villanova head coach Jay Wright has decided to retire.
Without any advance notice or suspicion that Wright would step down, there was no time to plan a farewell tour. Instead, many in the college basketball world honored Wright while simultaneously processing the news.
Shortly after the story broke, Iona head coach Rick Pitino bid farewell to his esteemed peer on Twitter.
“Not sure why and it’s his choice, but we will miss @VUCoachJWright,” Pitino wrote, “For years, humble, classy and one hell of a coach. Good luck my friend!”
Not sure why and it’s his choice, but we will miss @VUCoachJWright . For years, humble, classy and one hell of a coach. Good luck my friend!
— Rick Pitino (@RealPitino) April 21, 2022
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According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Wright is “ready to move to [the] next stage of his life.” A source described the 60-year-old as “fully at peace with the decision.”
Wright, who steered the Wildcats to 2016 and 2018 national titles, was one of three active men’s basketball coaches to have won multiple titles alongside Pitino and Bill Self. However, the NCAA forced Louisville to vacate its 2013 championship in 2018.
While the timing was unexpected, Wright had a prestigious run with seven seasons as Hofstra’s head coach before 21 more at Villanova. Regardless his reasons, he now gets to enjoy retirement after a decorated career.