< PreviousWWW.VILLANOVA .COM 40 2019-20 VILLANOVA BASKETBALL VILLANOVA GAMEDAY MEET THE WILDCATS VILLANOVA This highly-skilled wing player brings a wide array of tools to the court each time out … Offers the versatility to play multiple positions on the court … Earned a spot on the 12 man roster for Team USA at the U19 World Cup. IMG ACADEMY Named a 2019 McDonald’s All-American where he competed for the West team … Completed his prep career at the school in Bradenton, Fla. … Ranked at No. 14 by and ESPN.com and No. 15 by 247 Sports in the Class of 2019 … Selected for the 2019 Nike Hoop Summit. BISHOP MIEGE HIGH SCHOOL Established himself as one of the top players in the midwest at this school in Roeland Park, Kan. … Averaged 21.3 points and 8.1 rebounds per game … Tabbed the 2018 Gatorade Kansas State Player of the Year … Earned a gold medal represent- ing USA Basketball at the 2018 FIBA Americas U18 Championship … Started all six games and averaged 10.7 ppg. and a team-leading 8.5 rpg. VILLANOVA A savvy guard whose understanding of the Wildcats’ system and commitment to its values make him a valued walk-on. 2018-19 OVERVIEW Was elevated from the practice squad to the roster prior to the Wildcats’ 81-58 victory on Dec. 22 ... Did not see any game action. PERSONAL A standout at Morristown High School, where he scored more than 1,000 career points. HOMETOWN: Overland Park, Kan. HIGH SCHOOL: IMG Academy HOMETOWN: Morristown, N.J. HIGH SCHOOL: Morristown H.S. 24 JEREMIAH ROBINSON-EARL 6-9 | 232 | FORWARD | FRESHMAN 20 KEVIN HOEHN 6-1 | 180 | GUARD | JUNIOR WWW.VILLANOVA .COM 42 2019-20 VILLANOVA BASKETBALL VILLANOVA GAMEDAY JAY WRIGHT • HEAD COACH IN 18 seasons as Villanova’s William B. Finneran Endowed Head Coach, Jay Wright has guided the Wildcats to new plateaus, including a pair of NCAA national championships in 2016 and 2018. The Bucknell University graduate (1983) is one of only three active Division I head coaches with multiple national championships to his credit. Villanova has recorded 191 victories over the past six seasons - an average of 31.8 wins per season. In that span, Villanova has captured five BIG EAST regular season titles along with four BIG EAST Tourna- ment crowns. With its 74-72 victory over Seton Hall at Madison Square Garden, the ‘Cats became the first program ever to win the event in three consecutive seasons (2017-19). For the sixth time in the past 13 seasons, Wright was tabbed the BIG EAST Coach of the Year in 2018-19. He has won the award more than any coach in league history. Villanova has reached the NCAA Tourna- ment in 14 of the last 15 seasons and the last seven in a row. It has won at least one game in each of the past six NCAA Tournaments and Wright sports a career record in the event of 28-16 overall (.636), 28-14 at Villanova (.667). With 448 Villanova victories, Wright is the program’s all-time wins leader, having surpassed Alexander Severance (413) in March 2018. His overall record, including seven seasons at Hofs- tra University, is 570-260 (.687). In 2017-18, the Wildcats amassed a school record 36 victories and secured Villa- nova’s third NCAA national championship with a 79-62 victory over Michigan on April 2, 2018. After an overtime loss at Creighton on Feb. 24, VU reeled off 11 consecutive victo- ries on its march to its title. Each of its six NCAA Tournament victories was by double digits. Guard Jalen Brunson became Villa- nova’s first consensus National Player of the Year in the modern era, joining Paul Arizin as the only VU players to earn that distinction. The Lincoln- shire, Ill., product was honored with the John R. Wooden Award, Naismith Award, and Associated Press Player of the Year honor. Meanwhile, Mikal Bridges received the Julius Erving Award as the nation’s top small for- ward, becoming the second Wildcat in as many seasons to earn that honor (Josh Hart was the 2017 recipient). With a quarterfinal victory over Mar- quette in the 2018 BIG EAST Tourna- ment, Wright moved past Alexander Severance to become the Villanova program’s all-time wins leader. The triumph over Michigan was the 422nd of Wright’s tenure as the Wildcats’ head coach (422-165). His career record – including a successful seven year stint at Hofstra from 1994-2001- is 544-250 (.685). A host of student-athletes who have worn the Blue and White in Wright’s tenure at the helm have carried their skills into the National Basketball Association. A program record four Wildcats were selected in the first 33 picks of the 2018 NBA Draft, including first round selections Bridges (drafted by Phil- adelphia and traded to Phoenix); Donte DiVin- cenzo (Milwaukee Bucks); Omari Spellman (Atlanta Hawks) and second round choice Brunson (Dallas Mavericks). They joined two other members of the 2016 champions, Josh Hart (Los Angeles Lakers) and Ryan Arci- diacono, who made their league debuts in 2017-18. Other Wildcats tutored by Wright to have made their marks in the NBA include four- time All-Star Kyle Lowry; 2006 first round draft choice Randy Foye; and Dante Cunningham, a sec- ond round pick in 2009 after helping lead the Wildcats to the NCAA Final Four. Wright has also coached a roster of college All-Americans including Foye and Allan Ray (2006); Scottie Reyn- olds (2010): Darrun Hil- liard (2015); Hart (2017), Brunson and Bridges (2018). The Villanova coach- ing tree includes five current college head coaches. Boston University’s Joe Jones was an aide to Wright at both Hofstra and Villa- nova while Pat- rick Chambers served on the Wildcats’ staff from 2004- 09. Former VU player Baker Dunleavy was named head coach at Quinnip- iac in 2017 and Ashley How- ard accepted the head coach- ing position at La Salle in 2018. Former Wildcats Associate Head Coach Billy Lange was named head coach at Saint Joseph’s Uni- versity in March 2019. Villanova Program Ad Villanova Program Ad Fonts: Ford Antenna Cond (Medium) Inks: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black Client: Ad #: Agency #: Park #: Live: Trim: Bleed: Ford Retail First FMDV5937000 1191075 FRET-09208 7.5” x 10” 8.5” x 11” 8.5” x 11” This document utilizes the Pantone + color library Links: 20_FRD_EPR_400061_Blue_FRC_PK.psd (CMYK; 303 ppi; 98.98%), BuiltFordProud_OOH-Print_White_v2.eps (114.33%), FordOval_Blue_CMYK_ v1.eps (35.15%) Park ADD: Park Designer: Park PM: Park Prod Artist: G. Rees P. Lelowicz Direct Mail Ops: Art Producer: Account Super: Account Exec: B. Maier Legal: Product Info: Copy Editor: Traffic:D. Ryan Creative Director: Art Director: Writer: Print Producer: M. Johnson M. Covington Date: 10-14-2019 4:25 PMRev: 2 Galley: 1File: FRET09208_FMDV5937000_Vill_ProgAd_R02.indd Engraver: Doc Scale: Output Size: Media/Type: None 100% None Magazine Note: T:8.5”T:11” B:8.5”B:11”WWW.VILLANOVA .COM 44 2019-20 VILLANOVA BASKETBALL VILLANOVA GAMEDAY JAY WRIGHT • HEAD COACH In addition to the on-court success, the Wildcats have produced in the classroom as well. Senior 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-Ameri- can along with BIG EAST Scholar Athlete of the Year. Villanova has won the last three BIG EAST Team Aca- demic Excellence awards and every Villanova player who has spent four years in the program since 1975 has earned his degree. On April 4, 2016, Villanova played a large part in one of the iconic moments in NCAA Tournament his- tory. With 4.7 seconds remaining in the NCAA Final at Houston’s NRG Stadium, Ryan Arcidiacono quickly advanced the basketball up the left side of the court, cut to his right and fed the ball to a trailing Kris Jen- kins. Jenkins stepped into a 28-footer that fell through the net as time expired, capping a 35-5 season. In 2018 Wright received the John R. Wooden Leg- ends of Coaching Award in Los Angeles. He is a two- time winner of the Naismith National Coach of the Year award (2006 and 2016). Wright is married to the former Patricia Reilly. The couple has two sons, Taylor (26) and Colin (25) and a daughter Reilly (20). Patty and Jay Wright were honored with the inaugural Saint Augustine Medal in April 2017. Wright’s first book “Attitude: How to Develop a Win- ning Mindset On and Off the Court” was released in 2017 and became a New York Times’ bestseller. JAY WRIGHT IN DEPTH 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-BY-YEAR WITH JAY WRIGHT 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 2018-2019 Villanova University 26-10 NCAA 25 years 570-260 JAY’S JOURNEY Overall Record 570-260 (.687) Villanova (2001-present) 448-175 (.719) Hofstra (1994-2001) 122-85 (.589) BIG EAST Regular Season 204-110 (.650) 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 Four (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, 2018) • 2006 NABC Coach of the Year • 2006 CBS/Chevrolet Coach of the Year WWW.VILLANOVA .COM 46 2019-20 VILLANOVA BASKETBALL VILLANOVA GAMEDAY COACHING STAFF Kyle Neptune begins his seventh season as the longest tenured Villanova assistant coach. During this period of unprecedented success, the Wildcats have averaged 31.8 wins per season and captured five BIG EAST regular season tournament titles and a pair of NCAA national championships. 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. KYLE NEPTUNE IN DEPTH DATE OF BIRTH January 21, 1985 HOMETOWN Philadelphia, Pa. EDUCATION Bachelor of Arts,Drexel University (2004) EXPERIENCE Assistant Coach, La Salle University (2004-08) Assistant Coach ,Drexel University (2008-12) Assistant Coach, Xavier University (2012-13) Assistant Coach, Villanova University (2013-present) 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 Basketball Coaches Association (NEBCA) “Coaches vs. Cancer” all-star game. GEORGE HALCOVAGE IN DEPTH DATE OF BIRTH January 13, 1986 HOMETOWN Pottsville, Pa. EDUCATION B.A., Babson College (2008) B.A., Villanova School of Business (2012) EXPERIENCE Video Coordinator, Villanova University (2010-14) Director, Basketball Operations, Villanova University (2014-17) Assistant Coach, Villanova University (2017-present) KYLE NEPTUNE • ASSISTANT COACH GEORGE HALCOVAGE • ASSISTANT COACHWWW.VILLANOVA .COM 48 2019-20 VILLANOVA BASKETBALL VILLANOVA GAMEDAY COACHING STAFF 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). 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 some 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.H ewas a 2019 inductee into the Philadelphia Big Five Hall of Fame. Following graduation in 2007 Nardi played professionally 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. The couple welcomed a daughter, Luciana Rose Nardi, in September 2019. 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. 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. DWAYNE ANDERSON IN DEPTH 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) MIKE NARDI IN DEPTH 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 • ASSISTANT COACH DWAYNE ANDERSON • DIR. OF BASKETBALL OPS Next >