BREAKING: JAY WRIGHT Retiring!!!

[GoldenWarrior11]

First off, big ups to my boy gtmoBlue! Creighton for life.

This is what I can tell you that I am hearing and at this point sounds true. This is not health related, Jay and his wife are fine. I feel the decision was more based on the changing landscape of college basketball, transfer portal, NIL, etc. Jay is an old-school coach who tries to do it right. Recruit players right out of high school (with an occasional transfer to fill a gap), teach them the system, develop them, and have them buy in. Also, teach them to be great young men. Go to class, get your degree, etc. Although 60 by today's standards is not really old, Jay is understandably tired, and the thought of trying to deal with the transfer portal and things of that nature year after year has to be exhausting. He wanted to get off that rollercoaster but still be involved. He is still going to be working at Villanova as the Special Assistant to the President, and will be involved with events, fundraising, things of that nature. Jay is a people-person, and him still being a representative of the University is something we welcome with open arms.

In regards to the decision, I am hearing Jay knew this would be his last season sometime during the middle of the season. This was not something that came out of nowhere, it was something he was thinking about previously as well. I think it was made known to his staff towards the end of the season, but they were really trying to keep everything under wraps for awhile until things could get sorted. I feel that he wanted to wait to make the announcement but the news started to leak and he wanted to get out ahead of it, and that is why the news hit and spread so quickly yesterday. Last night he informed the team and has been in contact with the recruits. Tonight is the Annual Villanova Basketball Banquet, so I imagine a lot of this speculation will be made clear there.

In regards to Kyle Neptune. He was on Jay's staff from 2013-2021. He was there for both National Championships and he was instrumental on the bench and extremely instrumental on the recruiting trail. This wasn't an impulse decision, or a spur of the moment thing where Jay decided to retire out of nowhere and they were grasping at straws. Jay wanted Kyle. Kyle knows the system and knows the culture. He was going to be the choice all along. Also, Kyle has only been away from Villanova for just a year. He knows most of the current players, and at one point he was recruiting some of the guys coming in, so there is a relationship there as well. Will we lose a guy or 2? Possibly. But any more than that and I'd be surprised.

Lastly, what Jay Wright has done for Villanova and the Big East is immeasurable. He is a class act and a genuine human being. The memories will last forever. He will be missed on the bench, but we are happy he will still be at Villanova continuing to help the school and the program anyway he can. Thanks for everything, Coach!

Incredible summary. We all should be proud that Jay went out on his terms.

Do you think there'd be any interest on his part to succeed Val as BE Commissioner in two years? He knows all of the coaches and ADs really well, and he has been quite possibly the biggest advocate for our league since its reorganization. It is still a full-time job, so perhaps he is truly done doing all of that. But if he is still involved with Villanova day-to-day in other capacities, perhaps he would be interested. Not sure.

[gtmoBlue]

A shortlist of points...Nova & the BEast.

1) Chestrockwell85...My man Chesty. Thanks for your high-level take on the situation. Added much info and clarity on this scenario.

2) Classy to the end, that Jay Wright. No glory-seeking national tour/fanfare, no media parade everywhere he goes.
JW is merely moving up in the Villanova hierarchy.

3) Neptune is a JW disciple...helped JW to build the current system, and he can coach. The recruits will stay.
No projected fall off in Radnor. Dudeanon: I'd put him on the 2nd tier of BE Coaches.

4) I expect MOST of the current staffing to remain-in-place. You don't mess with success. (if it ain't broke-don't fix it.)

5) The BE is (and was projected to be) a bloodbath already. So erobody take a couple of deep breaths...and relax. Nova
is not "out of the picture"...yet. With the continuity of this move, they will continue to be a factor in the top tier of the BE.

6) So to the old coaching heads - lickin' their chops - Cooley, Mac, the Intermediate guys - lookin' to move up - Ewing, Hurley, Anderson,
and the slew of new bucks...CHILL. There will not be an earthquake - pecking orders will not change overnight.
Put in the Work.

[Wizard of Westroads]

Happy for him, and the Muskies. The conference is now wide open and everyone is going to be fighting to take the top dog spot.

Coaching tiers now:
1. Miller, Matta, Cooley, McDermott
2. Hurley, Shaka, Holloway
3. Neptune, Anderson, Leitao
4. Ewing

Coaching tiers now:
1. Miller, Matta, Cooley, McDermott
2. Hurley, Shaka, Anderson
3. Neptune, Holloway, Stubblefield
4. Ewing
Anderson belongs in the second tier, has been to an EE and a SS. Hasn't done great in the BE so far, but his overall resume is good.
Holloway had a nice run in the tournament, but didn't exactly dominate MMA.
Stubblefield replaced Leitao last year.

[DudeAnon]

@gtmo Pecking orders may not change overnight, but they may as well. Head coaches are the program in CBB. Very few thought Steele would be out after four years but here we are.

@wizards if Anderson could hold on to players I'd agree

[ArmyVet]

Might this be the impetus for Big East expansion? It's not impossible to think that FS1 will have some concerns about the product without Jay Wright and advocate for adding a big fish to the league.

[Hall2012]

Deepest tourney run (as head coach) tiers:

1 - Title Game: Thad Matta
2 - Final Four: Shaka Smart
3 - Elite 8: Sean Miller, Mike Anderson, Shaheen Holloway
4 - Sweet 16: Ed Cooley, Greg McDermott
5 - Rd of 32: Dan Hurley
6 - Rd of 64: Patrick Ewing
7 - No NCAA: Tony Stubblefield, Kyle Neptune

[gtmoBlue]

Although many of you have taken seats on the Miller-Matta bus...they have yet to prove anything in the
conference. It goes without saying that both men are excellent coaches. However, they haven't
won a game...yet.

I will say it again on this thread...

Ed Cooley is now the DEAN of Big East Coaches.
Providence College is the Defending Big East RS Champions.
Providence is coming off a successful RS and SS year.
To the Victor goes the spoils...but also the Responsibility. Leaders must lead.





Providence College is now EXPECTED to carry the BEast guidon...to represent the Best in the Big East!
Prov is expected to "set the standard of Excellence" in the conference.
Can you Handle it?

[Hall2012]

Ed Cooley is absolutely the face of the conference now and that's not close. He won't be as dominant as Jay Wright, but he doesn't need to be.

[adoraz]

Deepest tourney run (as head coach) tiers:

1 - Title Game: Thad Matta
2 - Final Four: Shaka Smart
3 - Elite 8: Sean Miller, Mike Anderson, Shaheen Holloway
4 - Sweet 16: Ed Cooley, Greg McDermott
5 - Rd of 32: Dan Hurley
6 - Rd of 64: Patrick Ewing
7 - No NCAA: Tony Stubblefield, Kyle Neptune

Funny how 4/5 of the coaches who made the Elite 8 or better were just added within the past year.

[gtmoBlue]

"Here's the thing..." - Stever 20

Can they do it again as members of the Big East?? Or will ANY of the current crop rise to the challenge?

Deepest tourney run (as head coach) tiers:

1 - Title Game: Thad Matta
2 - Final Four: Shaka Smart
3 - Elite 8: Sean Miller, Mike Anderson, Shaheen Holloway
4 - Sweet 16: Ed Cooley, Greg McDermott
5 - Rd of 32: Dan Hurley
6 - Rd of 64: Patrick Ewing
7 - No NCAA: Tony Stubblefield, Kyle Neptune

Funny how 4/5 of the coaches who made the Elite 8 or better were just added within the past year.