Jay Wright (basketball)

Jerold Taylor "Jay" Wright Jr. (born December 24, 1961) is an American former college basketball coach. He served as the head coach of Villanova University from 2001 until 2022. Wright led the Villanova Wildcats to six Big East Conference championships and 16 NCAA tournament appearances in 21 seasons as head coach. Under Wright, Villanova reached four Final Fours (2009, 2016, 2018, 2022) and won two national championships in 2016 and 2018.

Beginning as a four-year player at Bucknell University, he quickly moved to coaching as an assistant at the University of Rochester and then Drexel University. In 1987, Wright returned to the institution he grew up rooting for as an assistant at Villanova under Hall of Fame coach Rollie Massimino. He coached at Villanova for five years, before following Massimino for a stint as an assistant at UNLV.

Wright started his head coaching at Hofstra University (1994–2001), leading the program to NCAA tournament appearances in both 2000 and 2001. Wright was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a member of the 2021 class.

Early life

Born in Churchville, Pennsylvania, Wright grew up a fan of Villanova. As a child, he played Little League Baseball in the Northampton Township Little League, for a team coached by his father Jerry. They finished as runner up in 1972, before winning the championship a year later.

He graduated from Council Rock High School North in Newtown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, where he played shortstop for the baseball team and quarterback for the football team, but gave both up to focus on basketball. Wright was the starting point guard for the varsity team for his sophomore-through-senior years, including for the 1978–79 Lower Bucks League championship team. His coach Mike Holland later remarked that he showed an early aptitude for coaching.

"I used to have this community basketball clinic where the guys had to teach junior high and elementary kids how to play basketball. At that time, [Wright] was already exhibiting coaching prowess. [...] He was my extension on the floor. I felt very comfortable turning the team over to him."

Wright considered playing for Herb Magee at Philadelphia University, but ultimately chose to attend Bucknell University, in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. There, he joined the Sigma Chi fraternity, and majored in economics and sociology, graduating in 1983.

While at Bucknell, Wright joined the basketball team led by coach Charlie Woollum. He played for the Bison for three seasons, overlapping with future NBA player Al Leslie and future Bucknell coach Pat Flannery, who Wright has since credited as a mentor. Wright became the starting point guard during the 1980–81 season, his junior year, leading the team in scoring, and was named team MVP. His senior year saw him named co-captain of the Bison, but he lost his starting job, an experience he found humbling. He shared the team's Malcolm Musser Leadership Award at the end of the season.

Coaching career

Early coaching career

Upon graduating from college, Wright got his first job as an assistant coach at Division III University of Rochester, having been recommended by Woollum, his college coach, and former teammate Flannery. There, he recruited for the school, organised intramural sports, and coached junior varsity. In 1986, after two years with the Yellowjackets, he got his first position in Division I college basketball as an assistant coach at Drexel University, joining Flannery on the staff. His next job came as an assistant to Rollie Massimino at Villanova, where he remained from 1987 to 1992. In 1992, he moved with Massimino to UNLV, where he remained until 1994.

Hofstra (1994–2001)

In 1994, Wright was named head coach at Hofstra University, which had struggled through most of the 1980s and early '90s, with only one season of 20 or more wins since 1980, and no NCAA tournament appearances since 1977. Hofstra's athletic director Jim Garvey remarked that Wright was "an outstanding recruiter," something the school was in need of improving. His hiring coincided with Hofstra's move to the North Atlantic Conference.

Hofstra went 10–18 in Wright's first season, finishing with the worst conference record in the NAC in the regular season, although they did secure a win over Maine in the conference tournament. Losing seasons followed for the next two years, with Hofstra going 9–18 and 12–15 respectively, although they did improve their finish in the conference each time – to 7th and 4th. Come the 1997–98 season, the Flying Dutchmen secured their first winning season for 12 years. With a roster featuring future NBA players Speedy Claxton and Norm Richardson, Hofstra defeated Hartford to reach the semi-finals of the now-renamed America East tournament, before losing to eventual tournament champions Delaware, to finish the year with a 19–12 record. Claxton was named the America East Conference Player of the Year, having finished first in the conference and seventh in the country for assists per game and led Hofstra in points per game.

The 1998–99 season saw a third-place finish in the conference, and another semi-final AEC tournament exit, this time at the hands of Drexel. But with Hofstra's first 20-win season since 1991–92, they secured a bid to the 1999 National Invitation Tournament, the school's first ever appearance in the tournament, and their first postseason appearance in 22 years. The Dutchmen ultimately lost in the first round to Rutgers, 58–45. A first conference title arrived the following season – Hofstra both topped the regular season standings outright and won the conference tournament, after securing victories over Boston University, Drexel, and two-time defending champions Delaware. With the tournament victory, Hofstra secured a berth in the NCAA tournament, for the school's first appearance since 1977. Handed a 14th-seed, the Dutchmen were matched up against the 3rd-seed Oklahoma State Cowboys, who were ranked 14th in the nation in the AP Poll, but were unable to provide an upset, losing 86–66. Having broken the school record for victories in a season with 24, Wright earned AEC Coach of the Year honors. Claxton won his second conference Player of the Year award, having finished fourth in the nation in scoring, with 23.2 points per game.

Under Wright, the program slowly and steadily improved, and by 1999 the Pride were a premier team in the America East Conference. They won the conference championship in 2000 and 2001, and from 1999 to 2001, went 72–22, including two NCAA tournament appearances. Wright was named America East Coach of the Year in 1999–2000 and 2000–01. He was also tabbed Eastern Basketball's Coach of the Year in 1999–2000.

Wright took the Pride to the Postseason three times:

• 1999 NIT: Hofstra was defeated by Rutgers University 68–45 in the first round
• 2000 NCAA Tournament: As a #14 seed, Hofstra lost to Oklahoma State University 86–66 in the first round.
• 2001 NCAA Tournament: As a #13 seed, Hofstra was defeated in the first round 61–48 by UCLA.

Villanova (2001–2022)

Three NIT appearances (2001–2004)

After receiving overtures from Tennessee and Rutgers for their head coaching roles, Wright instead chose to return to Villanova, becoming the eighth coach in the 81-year history of the program. Wright inherited a mediocre team from previous coach Steve Lappas, and in Wright's first season, they made the NIT. In 2002, Wright was able to secure one of the top-rated recruiting classes in the country, led by McDonald's All-American center Jason Fraser. However, the Wildcats had a mediocre 2002–03 season, which was marred by a phone card abuse scandal that eventually resulted in suspensions to over half the roster. The Wildcats again made the NIT but did not advance far. The 2003–04 season saw more playing time for the talented young players from the previous recruiting class, but it also resulted in a mediocre season and another NIT appearance. Villanova advanced as far as the quarterfinals in the NIT, doing so in 2002 and 2004. Wright's NIT appearances in his first three years were considered by most fans to be failures and he entered his fourth year considered to be on the hottest seat in the Big East.

Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight runs (2004–2008)

In the 2004–05 season, Wright's Wildcats enjoyed a breakout campaign thanks to the emergence of forward Curtis Sumpter and guards Allan Ray and Randy Foye. Villanova finished 22–7 in a year that included upset wins over No. 2 Kansas and No. 3 Boston College. They were rewarded with a fifth seed in the NCAA tournament, the Wildcats' first appearance in the tournament since 1999. Villanova defeated New Mexico and Florida to advance to the sweet 16. However, their tournament run came to an end next round after a narrow loss to North Carolina, the No. 1 seed (and eventual champion). Villanova was ranked 19th in the final Associated Press poll, their first such appearance in eight years.