Villanova head coach Jay Wright has been one of the best college basketball coaches in the sport for the better part of the past two decades.
Wright shocked the college basketball world on Wednesday when he announced that he would be retiring from coaching.
It seems that Wright may have been contemplating this for a while now, as Fordham head coach Kyle Neptune was already announced as Wright’s replacement at Villanova for the 2022 college basketball season.
Unlike Mike Krzyzewski’s retirement, this came with no notice to the public. Wright discussed his reasoning for retiring so abruptly during a press conference on Friday.
“I just didn’t have the edge that I’ve always had,” Wright said. “The edge always came natural to me. You’re either 100 percent in or you’re against us.”
"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
Wright also added that the shift that has occurred in college sports thanks to changes to the transfer portal, as well as the implementation of NIL deals had “a little” effect on 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
Although Wright will not be the head coach at Villanova next season, he stated on Friday that he still plans to be involved in the program in some capacity going forward.
“I honestly don’t have a plan [for my future] except continuing to be involved here… I know I’ll see you at a game and we’ll sit down and talk about it.”
"I honestly don't have a plan [for my future] except continuing to be involved here… I know I'll see you at a game and we'll sit down and talk about it"
Jay Wright https://t.co/FYBRMIPP3J
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) April 22, 2022
Wright also took the chance to praise his successor, calling it “our dream to have Kyle Neptune take over.”
Jay says it was our 'dream' to have Kyle Neptune take over.
"We've got outstanding recruits coming in and they're staying" https://t.co/FYBRMIPP3J
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) April 22, 2022
Neptune will certainly have some big shoes to fill at Villanova going forward. Wright has done everything that there is to do at the coaching level in his 21-season tenure with the program, winning two national championships while being extremely consistent, making the NCAA Tournament in each of the last nine seasons.
Jay Wright will surely be missed as Villanova enters an uncertain era without him set to begin next season.
