Report: Villanova coach Jay Wright to retire, replacement identified

Longtime Villanova coach Jay Wright is expected to step down, per multiple reports.

Wright, who led the Wildcats to 2 National Championships and the 2022 Final Four, is 60 years old. The news was first reported by The Athletic’s Shams Charania.

Just in: Villanova’s Jay Wright — one of college basketball’s iconic coaches and a Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer — is seriously contemplating retiring this offseason, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Wright, 60, is meeting with his family and making final decision soon.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 20, 2022

Villanova is reportedly expected to name Fordham coach Kyle Neptune as Wright’s replacement. Neptune, 37, played at Lehigh and just completed his first year as Fordham’s head coach. He previously served as an assistant on Wright’s staff at Villanova from 2013-21.

Fordham University coach Kyle Neptune is expected to be the choice to succeed two-time NCAA champion Jay Wright as the new head coach of Villanova, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 20, 2022

Wright retires as one of the most decorated college basketball coaches in recent history. He won 642 games, 2 National Championships, 8 Big East regular season titles and 5 Big East Tournament crowns. He also went to 4 Final Fours.

Wright’s 520 wins at Villanova is the most in school history. Only Alex Severance (413 wins from 1936-61) won more than 400 games for the Wildcats.

His final Villanova team was defeated by Kansas in the Final Four earlier this month. The Jayhawks went on to win the National Championship.