Jay Wright: Latest News

VILLANOVA, Pa. - Friday night parents proudly watched Villanova students’ hard work culminate with a walk across the stage as graduates. As they start the next chapter of their lives, they had a special commencement speaker, one who is also turning the page at Villanova.Hall of Fame and NCAA national champion men’s basketball coach Jay Wright took the stage for one more inspiring speech."I love you too," Wright said to the crowd as he prepared to speak.The stadium full of loving family members, not to cheer on a sports team, but to congratulate their soon-to-be-graduates.

VILLANOVA, Pa. - Legendary Villanova men’s basketball coach Jay Wright will discuss his retirement during a Friday morning press conference where a long-time assistant of his will be introduced as his successor. The news of Wright’s retirement broke on Wednesday night and he soon confirmed his decision with a brief statement on social media. "It's time for us to enter a new era of Villanova basketball," Wright said in a statement. "After 35 years in coaching, I am proud and excited to hand over the reins to Villanova's next coach.

TRENTON, N.J. - New Jersey's recreational marijuana marketplace is open for business.Recreational sales of cannabis for adults 21 and older are scheduled to start Thursday, with the first alternative treatment centers opening at 6 a.m. in part of the state."It’s a huge event.

PHILADELPHIA - Longtime Villanova men's basketball head coach Jay Wright is likely to retire, according to reports. ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski said Wright has had significant interest from NBA teams in the past, but "his intention is to retire from coaching --- not only Villanova." "Those who've talked to Wright don't believe the NBA holds appeal to him -- not now, or in future," Wojnarowski said in a tweetWright, 60, took over as the Wildcats head coach in 2001 and helped elevate Villanova's basketball program to one of the best in the country. Under Wright, Villanova won two NCAA Men's Basketball Championships in 2016 and 2018, made four Final Four appearances and won five Big East Tournaments. Wright was named the Naismith College Coach of the Year in 2006 and 2016, and the Big East Coach of the year six times. A native of Churchville, Pennsylvania and a graduate of Council Rock High School North, Wright played college basketball at Bucknell University. Wright's got his first coaching job as an assistant at the University of Rochester, then moved on to Drexel and Villanova.

NEW ORLEANS - Bill Self was wading through old video of Villanova this week, trying to scout a specific action that the Wildcats use on the offensive end of the floor, when the Hall of Fame Kansas coach did something he's avoided the past four years.Self watched film of the 2018 Final Four.The one where the Wildcats embarrassed Kansas on their march toward a third national championship."I didn't really watch it to try to, you know, have memories," Self said with a grim smile Friday. "I say I watched it — I got through about 12 minutes of it.

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - MARCH 26: Nnanna Njoku #22 of the Villanova Wildcats celebrates after defeating the Houston Cougars 50-44 in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) ((Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images))SAN ANTONIO - Jermaine Samuels had 16 points and 10 rebounds as Villanova advanced to its third NCAA Final Four in the last six NCAA Tournaments with a grind-it-out 50-44 victory over Houston in the South Region final Saturday.Caleb Daniels added 14 points for the Wildcats (30-7), and fifth-year senior Collin Gillespie's only made field goal was a clutch shot late.With both teams willing to limit possessions, the first spot for this year's Final Four in New Orleans was settled in a game that was ugly to watch with all the missed shots.Villanova shot 28.8% from the field (15 of 52).

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - MARCH 24: Caleb Daniels #14 of the Villanova Wildcats reacts during the first half of the game against the Michigan Wolverines in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Sweet 16 Round at AT&T Center on March 24, 2022 in San PHILADELPHIA - Villanova began the season among the figurative favorites to reach the Final Four.The Wildcats were ranked No. 4 and boasted a veteran roster that reached all the way back to the 2018 national championship season.But by mid-December, they already had four losses in a rough schedule, taking a beating from defending national champion Baylor and losing their Big East opener to Creighton.Uh oh? Not so, coach Jay Wright said.Wright said he put his team in a "bad spot" with the brutal early schedule that also included losses to UCLA and Purdue, two other other programs that would eventually reach the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament."I felt like we were worn down, and we were in finals, and Baylor played great.

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - MARCH 24: Eric Dixon #43 of the Villanova Wildcats shoots a layup against the Michigan Wolverines during the second half of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Sweet 16 Round at AT&T Center on March 24, 2022 in San Anton PHILADELPHIA - Jermaine Samuels scored 22 points and Villanova controlled Michigan in a 63-55 Sweet 16 victory on Thursday night in the NCAA Tournament.Samuels' 8-of-13 shooting performance, much of it coming on tough drives through Michigan defenders and around Dickinson, carried a Wildcats offense that had long stretches of misfiring on 3-pointers.The second-seeded Wildcats (28-7) advanced to the South Region final to play the winner of Thursday night’s matchup between top seed Arizona and No. 5 seed Houston.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Jay Wright was in trouble three years into his tenure at Villanova, with speculation swirling that he would be fired. Ben Wallace was once undrafted and unknown. Chris Bosh’s playing career ended years before he planned. Chris Webber had been a snubbed finalist time and time again.

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 21: Justin Moore #5 of the Villanova Wildcats drives with the ball against Zachary Simmons #24 of the North Texas Mean Green in the first half of their second round game of the 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Ba INDIANAPOLIS - Jeremiah Robinson-Earl scored 18 points, Jermaine Samuels Jr. had 15 and Villanova knocked down 15 3-pointers, emphatically ending 13th-seeded North Texas’ bid for a second NCAA Tournament upset with a 84-61 victory Sunday night.The fifth-seeded Wildcats (18-6) move on to the Sweet 16 to face top-seeded Baylor.

NEWARK, N.J. – Jeremiah Robinson-Earl scored 23 points in 21 minutes and No. 3 Villanova rolled to ninth straight victory with an unexpectedly easy 80-72 decision over Seton Hall on Saturday.

Head coach Jay Wright of the Villanova Wildcats talks with Jeremiah Robinson-Earl #24 during a time out in the first half against the Boston College Eagles the 2K Empire Classic at Mohegan Sun Arena on November 25, 2020 in Uncasville, Connecticut. (P Welcome back to the floor, Villanova.The third-ranked Wildcats have not played a game since Dec.

The Associated Press men's basketball poll Monday.If third-ranked Villanova ever plays a game, perhaps it will make a run a them. The Bulldogs again racked up all but the two first-place votes that went to the Bears, while the Wildcats remained firmly behind the preseason top two despite not playing a game since Dec.

Villanova men's basketball head coach Jay Wright. PHILADELPHIA - Jay Wright’s plan to resume coaching No.

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:___No. 3 Villanova’s next three games have been postponed because of COVID-19 issues within the program.The Wildcats (8-1) were scheduled to play Tuesday at DePaul, Friday vs.

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:___Villanova coach Jay Wright has tested positive for COVID-19 and the No. 5 Wildcats have paused basketball activities.Wright says in a statement issued Sunday by Villanova that he another staff member tested positive.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - FEBRUARY 19: Head coach Jay Wright of the Villanova Wildcats looks on in the second half against the DePaul Blue Demons at Wintrust Arena on February 19, 2020 in Chicago, Illinois.

VILLANOVA, Pa. – Collin Gillespie and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl each scored 18 points for No. 7 Villanova, and coach Jay Wright won his 600th career game in an 85-66 victory over Butler on Wednesday night.Wright (600-268) was already Villanova's winningest coach and he became the 39th coach in Division I history to reach 600 wins.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Coming into this season, Villanova coach Jay Wright wondered who might replace Saddiq Bey as the Wildcats' go-to player.After two games, Wright thinks Jeremiah Robinson-Earl may have answered that question for him.Robinson-Earl followed up an 18-point performance in the season opener with a career-high 28 points on Thursday night to lead No. 3 Villanova over No.

Head coach Jay Wright of the Villanova Wildcats is seen after the game against the Xavier Musketeers at Cintas Center on February 22, 2020 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) PHILADELPHIA - Villanova Men's Basketball coach Jay Wright has announced he will be staying put amid speculation he may be a candidate for the 76ers head coaching job.Wright issued a brief statement on social media Wednesday saying he felt it was necessary to "address the speculation about the 76ers head coaching position."“The 76ers have a great leader in Elton Brand, outstanding young talent and an incredible opportunity for any coach to compete for a championship.

The USA Basketball coaching staff for the Tokyo Olympics is still preparing as if there will be a gold medal to try and defend this summer, even in highly uncertain times caused by the global coronavirus pandemic.