< PreviousIn 19 seasons as Villanova’s William B. Finneran Endowed Head Coach, Jay Wright has guided the Wildcats to new heights, including a pair of NCAA national championships. The Bucknell University graduate (1983) is one of only three active Division I head coaches with multiple national championships to his credit. Villanova has posted 215 victories in the past seven seasons – an aver- age of 30.7 per season. In 2019-20, the Wildcats posted a 24-7 record and share of the BIG EAST regular season championship – their sixth such title in the last seven seasons – before the postseason was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2019 the Cats became the first team in league history to claim three consecutive BIG EAST Tournament titles. This was achieved despite the departure of the top four scorers from the 2018 NCAA national championship team – Mikal Bridges, Donte DiVincenzo, Omari Spellman and Jalen Brunson. Those four were among seven recent Wildcats to see action during the 2019-20 NBA season (Ryan Arcidiacono, Josh Hart and Eric Paschall were the others). In 2017-18, the Wildcats amassed a school record 36 victories and secured Villanova’s third NCAA national cham- pionship with a 79-62 victory over Michigan on April 2, 2018. Brunson became Villanova’s first consensus National Player of the Year in the modern era, joining Paul Arizin as the only VU players to earn that distinc- tion. In 2016, Villanova defeated North Carolina 77-74 when Kris Jenkins drained a 3-pointer at the buzz to cap a 35-5 campaign with an NCAA national title. The product of Council Rock High School owns a record of 472-182 (.720) in his 19 seasons at the helm of the Wildcats and is the program’s all-time wins leader. With 241 BIG EAST vic- tories, he ranks third all-time among league coaches and is 28-14 (.667) in NCAA Tournament play at Nova. His overall record as head coach – includ- ing a successful seven-year stint at Hofstra University from 1994-2001 – is 594-267 (.686). JAY WRIGHT WILLIAM B. FINNERAN ENDOWED ATHLETIC FUND HEAD COACH 2020-21 VILLANOVA BASKETBALL 18 BASKETBALL STAFFJAY WRIGHT 2020-21 VILLANOVA BASKETBALL 20 BASKETBALL STAFF Akron................... 1-0 Alabama ................. 1-1 Albany.................. 2-0 American ............... 3-0 American (PR)........... 1-0 Arizona ................. 1-0 Army . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-0 Baylor .................. 0-1 Belmont ................ 2-0 Binghamton ............. 1-0 Boston College .......... 4-4 Boston University ........ 9-7 Bucknell ................ 7-0 Butler................... 11-4 California ............... 0-1 Canisius................. 1-0 Chaminade .............. 0-1 Cincinnati ............... 5-3 Clemson ................ 1-0 Colgate ..................2-1 Coll. of Charleston ........2-1 Colorado................ 0-1 Columbia ................3-1 Connecticut ............ 8-12 Cornell.................. 1-0 Creighton ............... 11-4 Dartmouth .............. 1-0 Dayton ..................2-1 Delaware.............. 16-10 Delaware State .......... 1-0 DePaul................. 22-2 Drexel ................. 11-10 Duke ................... 1-0 Eastern Washington...... 1-0 ETSU ................... 1-0 Fairfield................. 0-1 Fairleigh Dickinson....... 2-0 Florida.................. 1-0 Florida Atlantic .......... 3-0 Florida Int. .............. 2-0 Florida State ............ 1-0 Fordham ................ 6-1 Furman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0-1 George Mason ............2-1 Georgetown............ 2012 Georgia Tech .............2-1 Gonzaga ................ 1-0 Grambling............... 1-0 Hartford ................ 11-4 Hawaii-Pacific ........... 1-0 Hofstra ................. 1-0 Houston Baptist ......... 1-0 Illinois .................. 1-0 Iona .................... 2-2 Iowa.................... 3-0 Kansas.................. 5-3 Kentucky ............... 0-1 Lafayette ............... 6-0 La Salle ................ 17-2 Lehigh ...................2-1 Longwood .............. 1-0 Louisiana Tech .......... 1-0 Louisville................ 6-6 Loyola Mary. ............ 1-0 LSU .................... 1-0 Maine.................. 10-4 Manhattan .............. 2-3 Marist................... 1-0 Marquette............. 20-10 Maryland.................2-1 Maryland E. Shore ....... 1-0 Marshall................. 1-0 Memphis ................ 0-2 Miami................... 4-3 Michigan .................2-1 Michigan State........... 1-0 Middle Tennessee ........ 2-0 Milwaukee............... 1-0 Missouri................. 0-1 Mississippi .............. 1-0 Mississippi State ......... 1-0 Monmouth .............. 6-0 Morgan State............ 1-0 Mount St. Mary’s ......... 2-0 UMKC .................. 0-1 Navy ................... 2-0 Nebraska ............... 1-0 New Hampshire......... 10-4 NJIT .................... 2-0 New Mexico ............. 1-0 New Mexico St. .......... 0-1 Niagara ................. 1-0 Nicholls ................ 1-0 North Carolina............1-3 North Carolina State ..... 0-2 Northeastern . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-5 Northern Ill. ............. 1-0 Northwood.............. 1-0 Notre Dame ............. 7-7 Ohio.................... 1-0 Ohio State .............. 0-2 Oklahoma ................3-1 Oklahoma State .......... 1-1 Penn................... 17-4 Penn State .............. 0-1 Pittsburgh.............. 5-12 Providence ............ 26-10 Purdue...................2-1 Quinnipiac .............. 1-0 Redlands................ 1-0 Rhode Island ............ 1-0 Rider ................... 3-0 Rutgers ................ 13-5 St. John’s .............. 24-9 St. Mary’s ............... 0-1 Saint Joseph’s .......... 15-4 Saint Louis .............. 0-1 Santa Clara............... 1-1 Seton Hall.............. 23-8 Siena .................... 1-1 Southern Miss ........... 0-1 SW Texas St. ............ 0-1 Stanford` ............... 1-0 Stony Brook............ 10-0 Syracuse ............... 12-9 Temple ................ 15-5 Tennessee ............... 1-1 Texas ....................1-2 Texas Tech............ 1-0 Towson ................. 13-1 UCLA....................3-1 UC Riverside ............ 1-0 UDC .................... 1-0 UMBC .................. 2-0 UNC Asheville ........... 1-0 UNCG .................. 1-0 UCF .................... 2-0 UNI..................... 1-0 USC .................... 1-0 USF .................... 6-4 Vanderbilt................ 1-1 VCU .................... 1-0 Vermont . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-8 Villanova................ 0-2 Virginia ..................2-1 VMI..................... 1-0 Virginia Tech ............ 4-1 Wake Forest ............ 1-0 West Virginia............ 6-8 Western Michigan....... 1-0 Western Kentucky ...... 1-0 Wichita State............ 1-0 Xavier ................. 14-4 Yale .................... 0-1 Youngstown St........... 2-0 WRIGHT VS. OPPONENTSJAY WRIGHT This is Wright’s second stint at Villanova. He served as an assistant to the late Rollie Massimino from 1987-92. In addition to the on-court success, the Wildcats have produced in the class room as well. Matt Kennedy was recognized with the prestigious NCAA Elite 90 Award at the 2018 Final Four while Brunson was voted second team CoSida Academic All-American. Every Villanova player who has spent four years in the program since 1975 has earned his degree. In 2018 Wright received the John R. Wooden Legends of Coaching Award in Los Angeles. He is a two- time winner of the Naismith National Coach of the Year award (2006 and 2016) and in 2018-19 became the first man in BIG EAST history to be selected as the league’s Coach of the Year six times. Wright is married to the former Patricia Reilly. The couple has two sons, Taylor (27) and Colin (26) and a daughter Reilly (21). Patty and Jay Wright were honored with the inaugu- ral Saint Augustine Medal in April 2017. Wright’s book “Attitude”, published in 2017, was a New York Times bestseller.. 2020-21 VILLANOVA BASKETBALL BASKETBALL STAFF 21JAY WRIGHT 2020-21 VILLANOVA BASKETBALL 22 BASKETBALL STAFF Jay and Patty WrightJay and Patty Wright DATE OF BIRTH Dec. 24, 1961 EDUCATION Council Rock H.S. (1979) Bucknell University (1983) COACHING EXPERIENCE University of Rochester Assistant Coach (1984-86) Drexel University Assistant Coach (1986-87) Villanova University Assistant Coach (1987-92) UNLV Assistant Coach (1992-94) Hofstra University Head Coach (1994-2001) Villanova University Head Coach (2001-present) Year Institution Record Postseason 1994-95 Hofstra University 10-18 None 1995-96 Hofstra University 9-18 None 1996-97 Hofstra University 12-15 None 1997-98 Hofstra University 19-12 None 1998-99 Hofstra University 22-10 NIT 1999-2000 Hofstra University 24-7 NCAA 2000-2001 Hofstra University 26-5 NCAA 2001-2002 Villanova University 19-13 NIT 2002-2003 Villanova University 15-16 NIT 2003-2004 Villanova University 18-17 NIT 2004-2005 Villanova University 24-8 NCAA 2005-2006 Villanova University 28-5 NCAA 2006-2007 Villanova University 22-11 NCAA 2007-2008 Villanova University 22-13 NCAA 2008-2009 Villanova University 30-8 NCAA 2009-2010 Villanova University 25-8 NCAA 2010-2011 Villanova University 21-12 NCAA 2011-2012 Villanova University 13-19 None 2012-2013 Villanova University 20-14 NCAA 2013-2014 Villanova University 29-5 NCAA 2014-2015 Villanova University 33-3 NCAA 2015-2016 Villanova University 35-5 NCAA 2016-2017 Villanova University 32-4 NCAA 2017-2018 Villanova University 36-4 NCAA 2018-19 Villanova University 26-10 NCAA 2019-20 Villanova University 24-7 25 years 594-267 JAY WRIGHT IN DEPTHYEAR-BY-YEAR WITH JAY WRIGHT Overall Record 594-267 (.690) Villanova (2001-present) 472-182 (.722) Hofstra (1994-2001) 122-85 (.589) BIG EAST Regular Season 217-115 (.654) America East Regular Season 76-49 (.613) NCAA Record 28-14 (.667) 16 appearances NIT Record 4-4 (.500); four appearances Big East Tournament 21-14 (.600) • Six NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 Appearances (2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2016, 2018) • Four NCAA Tournament Elite Eights (2006, 2009, 2016, 2018) • Three NCAA Final Fours (2009, 2016, 2018) • Two NCAA Championships (2016, 2018) • Two-time Naismith National Coach of the Year (2006, 2016) • Six-time BIG EAST Coach of the Year (2006, 2009, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019) • 2006 NABC Coach of the Year • 2006 CBS/Chevrolet Coach of the Year • 2019-21 USA Basketball Senior Men’s Basketball Assistant Coach • 2007 Pan American Games and 2005 World University Games Head Coach (USA Basketball) JAY’S JOURNEYVILLANOVA EXTENDED COACHING FAMILY In the course of his quarter century as a head coach, Jay Wright has mentored a long list of assistant coaches and players who have gone on to enter the coaching profession at the college and professional levels. Ashley Howard enters his third sea- son as head coach at La Salle Univer- sity. Howard spent five seasons as a Wildcats’ assistant from 2013-18, a pe- riod during which Villanova won 165 games and a pair of national titles. Baker Dunleavy, who played from 2002-06 at Villanova and later re- turned to coach at his alma mater, be- gins his fourth season at Quinnipiac in 2020-21. Dunleavy served as asso- ciate head coach for the 2016 NCAA national champions. Among those on the Quinnipiac staff is former Wright assistant coach Tom Pecora (Hofstra). Joe Jones, who worked with Wright as an assistant coach at both Hofstra and Villanova, is the head coach at Boston University. Billy Lange, a two-time member of the Villanova staff (2001-04 and 2011- 13), was named the head coach at Saint Joseph’s University in the spring of 2019. The National Basketball Association also has a strong Villanova influence. Brett Gunning, who worked with Wright as an assistant coach in his sev- en seasons at Hofstra and later at Villa- nova, has been an NBA assistant since joining the Rockets in 2008. He also served a stint as an assistant coach in Orlando and then returned to Houston as a member of Mike D’Antoni’s staff. Another former VU staffer, Connor Johnson, is also a part of the 76ers organization, having been elevated to the position of head coach with the team’s G League outfit, the Delaware Blue Coats. Matt Massimino, who spent the past two seasons on the Villanova staff as an assistant coach is now with the Phoenix Suns, where he serves as a Personnel Evaluator. 2020-21 VILLANOVA BASKETBALL BASKETBALL STAFF n 23 JOE JONES BOSTON UNIVERSITY ASHLEY HOWARD LA SALLE BAKER DUNLEAVY QUINNIPIAC Jay Wright with Billy Lange prior to the 2019 meeting between Villanova and Saint Joseph’sKYLE NEPTUNE ASSISTANT COACH Kyle Neptune enters his eighth season in his current role, making him the longest tenured Villanova assistant coach. During this period of unprecedented success, the Wildcats have averaged 30.7 wins over seven seasons, capturing six BIG EAST regular season, four BIG EAST Tournament and a pair of NCAA national championships in that span. Neptune made his return to the Villanova staff when he was named an assistant coach in September 2013. He had previously served the Wildcats from 2008-10 as the administrative intern/video coordinator and was a part of the staff that helped lead VU to the 2009 NCAA Final Four in Detroit. Prior to this stint, Neptune served three seasons as an assistant coach at Niagara University (2010-13) and accompanied former Niagara head coach Joe Mihalich to Hofstra University in the months before accepting his position at Villanova. “During his time at Villanova, Kyle has demonstrated all the qualities you want to see in a young coach - commitment, passion, and the ability to communicate with young people.” stated head coach Jay Wright. “He is a well- rounded and talented young coach who we are thrilled to have with us.” A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., Neptune played four seasons of college basketball at Lehigh University where he served as a team captain in his senior year of 2006-07. The Mountain Hawks claimed the 2004 Patriot League title during Neptune’s freshman campaign. As a junior, Neptune logged 33 minutes as a Lehigh starting forward when the Mountain Hawks played Villanova in November of 2005 at the Pavilion. In his present role, Neptune assists with all elements of the program, including on-court teaching, player development, and recruiting. 2020-21 VILLANOVA BASKETBALL 24 BASKETBALL STAFF DATE OF BIRTH January 21, 1985 HOMETOWN Brooklyn, N.Y. EDUCATION B.A., Lehigh University (2007) EXPERIENCE Video Coordinator, Villanova University (2008-10) Assistant Coach, Niagara University (2010-13) Assistant Coach, Hofstra University (June 2013-September 2013) Assistant Coach, Villanova University (2013-present) KYLE NEPTUNE IN DEPTH2020-21 VILLANOVA BASKETBALL BASKETBALL STAFF 25 ASSISTANT COACH GEORGE HALCOVAGE George Halcovage, who first joined the Wildcats as a graduate assistant coach in 2008, was elevated to the role of Assistant Coach in the summer of 2017. It marked another step in the rise of the native of Pottsville, Pa., at Villanova. “George is a longtime member of our staff who has been ready for this position for a long time,” stated Villanova head coach Jay Wright. “We are excited about him taking the next step in his career at Villanova.” As an assistant coach Halcovage assists with on-court teaching, recruiting, and player development. Halcovage was a part of the Villanova staff that guided the Wildcats to the 2009 NCAA Final Four in Detroit. In 2010, he moved over to become the Video Coordinator/ Graduate Intern. He later was elevated to the role of Director of Basketball Operations and served in that capacity during the Wildcats’ run to the 2016 NCAA national championship. In his first season as an assistant coach, the Wildcats posted a program record 36 victories on route to a second NCAA national title in the past three seasons. In 2012 Halcovage earned his Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from Villanova University. Halcovage is a 2008 graduate of Babson College, where he played four seasons of varsity basketball as a point guard. In his final two seasons he coordinated the New England Coaches Association (NEBCA) “Coaches vs. Cancer” all-star game. DATE OF BIRTH January 13, 1986 HOMETOWN Pottsville, Pa. EDUCATION B.A., Babson College (2008) M.B.A., Villanova School of Business (2012) EXPERIENCE Graduate Manager, Villanova University (2008-10) Video Coordinator, Villanova University (2010-14) Director, Basketball Operations, Villanova University (2014-17) Assistant Coach, Villanova University (2017-present) GEORGE HALCOVAGE IN DEPTHMIKE NARDI ASSISTANT COACH Mike Nardi, a four-year starter at guard for the Wildcats from 2003-07, was elevated to the position of Assistant Coach in the spring of 2018 following the departure of Ashley Howard to accept the head coaching position at La Salle University. Since joining the basketball staff at the start of the 2015-16 season, Nardi has been a part of two NCAA national championships. Previously, the New Jersey native served as Director of Student-Athlete Development (2015-16), Video Coordinator (2016-17). and Director of Basketball Operations (2017-18). “It’s great to have a player of Mike’s caliber working his way up on our staff,” said Villanova head coach Jay Wright. “He is a talented coach with a bright future in our business.” Nardi originally came to Villanova after an outstanding career at St. Patrick’s High School in New Jersey. The 6-2 native of Linden, N.J., was tabbed New Jersey High School Player of the Year by the Newark Star Ledger. As a Wildcat, Nardi was named to the 2004 BIG EAST All-Rookie Team after starting all 35 games as a freshman. He would remain an integral part of sowme of Villanova’s most successful teams in the mid-2000’s, helping VU reach the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 in 2005 and the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight in 2006. As a senior he helped mentor freshman Scottie Reynolds while helping lead the Wildcats back to the NCAA Tournament and he was named Honorable Mention All-BIG EAST. Nardi scored 1,306 points in his Villanova career. His 423 career assists place him in 12th place in school history.He was a 2019 inductee into the Philadelphia Big Five Hall of Fame. Following graduation in 2007 Nardi played profession- ally for nine seasons in Italy. In August 2018 Nardi was married to the former Lauren Christiana in a ceremony at the St. Thomas of Villanova Chapel. They welcomed a daughter Lucia in 2019. 2020-21 VILLANOVA BASKETBALL 26 BASKETBALL STAFF DATE OF BIRTH January 30, 1985 HOMETOWN Linden, N.J. EDUCATION B.A., Villanova University (2007) EXPERIENCE Director, S.A. Development Villanova University (2015-16) Video Coordinator, Villanova University (2016-17) Director, Basketball Operations, Villanova University (2017-18) Assistant Coach, Villanova University (2018-present) MIKE NARDI IN DEPTH Mike, Lauren and Lucia Nardi2020-21 VILLANOVA BASKETBALL BASKETBALL STAFF 27 DIRECTOR OF BASKETBALL OPERATIONS DWAYNE ANDERSON Dwayne Anderson, a 2009 Villanova graduate who served as a captain on the unit that brought the Wildcats to the NCAA Final Four in Detroit, returned to his alma mater in May 2018 after serving five seasons on the coaching staff at Penn State University. He assumed the role of Director of Basketball Operations at Villanova. “We are excited to welcome Dwayne and his wife Lindsay home to Villanova,” stated Villanova head coach Jay Wright. “As a player, Dwayne’s leadership traits played a critical role on our 2009 NCAA Final Four team. Those same traits have helped make him an outstanding young coach. He will be a great role model for our players.” A Silver Spring, Md., native, Anderson first came to Villanova by way of St. Thomas More (Conn.) in 2005. As a freshman, he was part of an NCAA Tournament Elite Eight team. In 2007-08, the 6-6 guard/forward earned a starting role for a unit that advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16. One year later, he helped lead the Wildcats to a 78-76 victory over Pittsburgh in the NCAA East Regional Final and the school’s first Final Four appearance in 24 years. He averaged 9.0 points and 6.2 rebounds per game as a senior captain in ‘08-09. In his four seasons, Anderson played on teams that posted a 102-37 overall record (.734) that included a 9-4 mark in the NCAA Tournament (.692). At the time of its departure, the class of 2009 (Anderson, Shane Clark, Dante Cunningham and Frank Tchuisi) was the winningest in program history. Following a professional career in Germany, Anderson entered the coaching profession, joining the staff of former VU Associate Head Coach Patrick Chambers. He spent five seasons in State College as an assistant coach, highlighted by the team’s 2018 run to the National Invitation Tournament title. Anderson is married to the former Lindsay Davis, who excelled as a four year member of the VU Swimming and Diving team from 2005-09, specializing in the 1 and 3 meter diving events. The couple has two sons, Dash and Nova. DATE OF BIRTH June 26, 1986 HOMETOWN Silver Spring, Md. EDUCATION B.A., Villanova University (2009) EXPERIENCE Assistant Coach, Penn State (2013-18) Director, Basketball Operations, Villanova University (2018-present) DWAYNE ANDERSON IN DEPTH Dash and Nova AndersonNext >