Jay Wright Retiring?

[Edward Sargent]

Was on campus at Villanova today.

I feel like I played a part in Wright retiring.

I almost heard “Fishy feels like he had a part in Wright retiring” - almost. Still on tour?

 

[Hey Adrien!]

I didn’t watch any games, but I followed how Kyle Neptune helped bring respectability to Fordham and I was very impressed.

After years in the gutter, Fordham went 16-16, their first winning season since 15-16.

In addition to the turnaround, there was an impressive jolt to their recruiting, not just with transfers but with homegrown talent (two top-300 prospects in their ‘22 class).

I don’t think they planned it to happen this soon, but part of me feels like it was always assumed Neptune would take over whenever Wright retired.

 

[Giddyup5]

I kinda wish Wright states that it was all because of the new transfer rule and to a lesser extent NIL.

That would be two prominent coaches him and Williams that retired specifically because of that and may help get some regulation on this mess.

It is destroying college sports (more so the transfer rules than NIL in my opinion).

 

[huskeynut]

Definitely a surprise announcement. And good for Jay. Congrats on a magnificent career.

When I started my career in education, my mentor said you will know when it's time to retire/ step away. He was correct. I knew when it was time and I have not regretted that decision. I believe Jay Wright knows it's time. All the best to him.

 

[UConnJim]

Wright is going out on top and on his terms. Coach K looked to be in pain when coaching the last few years and Boeheim has stayed too long.

Also, the Big East still has plenty of good coaches and I think the league is going to become a lot more competitive over the next few years. And, Georgetown is waiting to be reawakened.

 

[8893]

Was on campus at Villanova today.

I feel like I played a part in Wright retiring.

$80k still in play? Certainly a nice campus, but not for the same price as Georgetown imo.

 

[shizzle787]

Bad for the league. Now it is imperative the league grabs Gonzaga.

 

[navery12]

Bad for the league. Now it is imperative the league grabs Gonzaga.

No it's not

 

[shizzle787]

No it's not

Villanova has been the only consistent Elite 8-type program the for last 8-9 years. This is definitely bad.

 

[Umami Zen]

Was always impressed with the class that Jay carried himself with in victory or defeat. Always acknowledged the opponent in a complimentary way no matter the outcome of the game. His teams were always well-coached and prepared.

Riding off into the sunset on your own terms and in good health is about as good as it gets. A job well done.

 

[CTFAN4LIFE]

NOW Hurley has to start feeling the pressure.

Or seizing the day!

 

[Improviser]

After V's first beatdown of us this season, after the game at the interview, he said he beat a great team and did not say it sarcastically at all.

A class act and not a showboat. A coach with a system and recruited the players to fit that system.

Wish him all the best.

 

[upstater]

You can't replace Hall of Fame coaches easily. No one has ever done it in college.

We'll see about Duke.

UNC, UConn, Indiana, UCLA, Kentucky, none of them managed to do it. I'm not going to bring up Kansas and their crookedness.

 

[freescooter]

No sugarcoating this. It is an unmitigated disaster for the NEWBIE. Villanova was the sole national program in the league. If they regress, the NEWB will be a bunch of eh programs that will rarely need to pack extra uniforms for the Tournament. Val is probably rolled up in a ball in the corner of her office wondering why she left the A10.

I suppose it does leave an opening for someone to climb, but reality is that there is a huge difference between climbing to the top of the NEWB and climbing to the upper reaches of college basketball. And in terms of resources very few NEWB programs have enough to get there. And it is probably unlikely that another really successful coach will stick around long enough to take a program where it needs to be. Jay was from a different era. If St Johns were to make a final four run next year, as an example, my guess is Anderson would be coaching at Florida State or Iowa in 2024. I would think UConn is one of the few NEWBIE members who could make the move. We have facilities, financial resources, and we’ve been there before, though it has been close to a decade. And it would require a number of pretty major changes in the way the program is operating now. I doubt there is the stomach for it. The only others I see having any potential are Xavier and Creighton, but both are long shots.

It is really really hard to build a national program. And it is even more difficult to do it in a league where you are the only one. Jay had the advantage of having built Villanova in the Big East competing against Top 10 programs week in and week out. Maintaining it was a great feat, but not as hard as building something new in a much less fertile environment. If it were easy the A10 would have top 10 team every year.

 

[shizzle787]

No sugarcoating this. It is an unmitigated disaster for the NEWBIE. Villanova was the sole national program in the league. If they regress, the NEWB will be a bunch of eh programs that will rarely need to pack extra uniforms for the Tournament. Val is probably rolled up in a ball in the corner of her office wondering why she left the A10.

I suppose it does leave an opening for someone to climb, but reality is that there is a huge difference between climbing to the top of the NEWB and climbing to the upper reaches of college basketball. And in terms of resources very few NEWB programs have enough to get there. And it is probably unlikely that another really successful coach will stick around long enough to take a program where it needs to be. Jay was from a different era. If St Johns were to make a final four run next year, as an example, my guess is Anderson would be coaching at Florida State or Iowa in 2024. I would think UConn is one of the few NEWBIE members who could make the move. We have facilities, financial resources, and we’ve been there before, though it has been close to a decade. And it would require a number of pretty major changes in the way the program is operating now. I doubt there is the stomach for it. The only others I see having any potential are Xavier and Creighton, but both are long shots.

It is really really hard to build a national program. And it is even more difficult to do it in a league where you are the only one. Jay had the advantage of having built Villanova in the Big East competing against Top 10 programs week in and week out. Maintaining it was a great feat, but not as hard as building something new in a much less fertile environment. If it were easy the A10 would have top 10 team every year.

The Big East programs have some of the top basketball budgets in the country. So you are suggesting we should go back to the AAC....with North Texas, SMU, and Charlotte?

 

[Icehawk]

I don't think I saw in the thread - but it's official now and Neptune is taking over.

Sad to see Jay go, great coach on every level but I have respect for someone choosing their path. Hope he enjoys mai tai's on the beach somewhere!

 

[storrsroars]

He’s evidently a huge Jersey Shore fan and has a house there. Tweets about it all the time. Not sure he’d be there in winter, but I think he could sign with Fox, do Nova. SH, SJ and Rutgers home games plus BET and some of that from home stuff.

My initial reaction after the first 7 words above was, "if Wright actually enjoyed watching 'Jersey Shore', then I've lost all respect for him."

 

[uconndogs]

I have no inside knowledge and this offered for what it is....speculation.

By all accounts JW did it the right way and seemed to have a good relationship with his players and university. In an era that will soon be run by the transfer portal and NIL, why would someone like that want to stick around? He's going out on top and will not have to deal with kids running to the portal or looking for more cash.

 

[ThabeetDown]

No sugarcoating this. It is an unmitigated disaster for the NEWBIE. Villanova was the sole national program in the league. If they regress, the NEWB will be a bunch of eh programs that will rarely need to pack extra uniforms for the Tournament. Val is probably rolled up in a ball in the corner of her office wondering why she left the A10.

I suppose it does leave an opening for someone to climb, but reality is that there is a huge difference between climbing to the top of the NEWB and climbing to the upper reaches of college basketball. And in terms of resources very few NEWB programs have enough to get there. And it is probably unlikely that another really successful coach will stick around long enough to take a program where it needs to be. Jay was from a different era. If St Johns were to make a final four run next year, as an example, my guess is Anderson would be coaching at Florida State or Iowa in 2024. I would think UConn is one of the few NEWBIE members who could make the move. We have facilities, financial resources, and we’ve been there before, though it has been close to a decade. And it would require a number of pretty major changes in the way the program is operating now. I doubt there is the stomach for it. The only others I see having any potential are Xavier and Creighton, but both are long shots.

It is really really hard to build a national program. And it is even more difficult to do it in a league where you are the only one. Jay had the advantage of having built Villanova in the Big East competing against Top 10 programs week in and week out. Maintaining it was a great feat, but not as hard as building something new in a much less fertile environment. If it were easy the A10 would have top 10 team every year.

You guys heard it here first. No Jay Wright = UConn should be in the A10.

 

[Kolumbo]

He's Right. 40 years of coaching, retire at 60. God Bless Us All.

 

[CL82]

He would be paid millions to a ”Wright-cast” from his basement.

I think it would be pretty much obligatory to call it “The Wright Stuff”

 

[CL82]

Was on campus at Villanova today.

I feel like I played a part in Wright retiring.

“Geesh, that guy is stalking me on campus now?! Yeah, that’s it, I’m done.”​

 

[CL82]

Jay Wright is the last of the true class acts of BE coaching from the legendary Calhoun UCONN era. I know some will include Boheim in that discussion

No, not really, because you used the phrase “class acts.”

 

[MJ1]

My initial reaction after the first 7 words above was, "if Wright actually enjoyed watching 'Jersey Shore', then I've lost all respect for him."

He enjoys going to the Jersey shore. Not watching the show.

 

[Woodson]

Wow, assuming all good health-wise, Jay Wright retiring ~15-20 years early, is..... terrible news for Villanova and actually pretty great news for UConn