Jay Wright becomes eighth active college basketball coach in Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
PHILADELPHIA (BVM) — The mastermind behind Villanova basketball’s golden age joined the pantheon of basketball history with his induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
The May 16 announcement revealed a 2021 Hall of Fame class including the likes of Paul Pierce and Chris Bosh alongside legendary Villanova basketball coach Jay Wright. The Big East staple accounts for two of Villanova’s three national championships while producing multiple NBA players throughout his tenure. Despite the incredible heights Wright has achieved in Philadelphia, success for the well-dressed coach has not always come easily.
Born and raised in Pennsylvania, Wright was no five-star recruit. After graduating from Council Rock High School North in his hometown of Newtown, Pa., the future Villanova coach took his talents three hours away to Bucknell in the small town of Lewisburg. A far cry from a basketball powerhouse, the Bisons recorded just two winning seasons during Wright’s four-year playing experience.
Not meant for a career in the NBA, the 23-year-old started his coaching career as an assistant at the University of Rochester. Wright cut his teeth recruiting and overseeing the junior varsity team at the Division III institute. After two years, he secured his first Division I role as an assistant coach at Drexel University in his return to Pennsylvania.
Wright moved again just a year later, joining Rollie Massimino for a five-year stint as an assistant coach at Villanova from 1987-92. Massimino coached Villanova to a national championship two years before his assistant arrived, and the two formed a bond that took the pair to UNLV in 1992. Wright would go on to overcome the ensuing controversy surrounding Massimino and the UNLV president by landing his first head coaching position at Hofstra University in 1994.
Once again, Wright arrived at an institution lacking a significant sporting pedigree. Upon his arrival, Hofstra boasted only two NCAA tournament appearances to its name, both coming almost 20 years before Wright’s coaching debut. Following two seasons with losing records, Hofstra’s new coach righted the ship, leading the Pride to two NCAA tournament appearances before departing for Villanova.
Wright’s high-flying offense and strong recruiting classes translated to a Sweet Sixteen appearance after three seasons. Villanova cemented their spot in the field of 64 under the coach, however it was not until 2016 when Wright would reach the summit of men’s college basketball with a national championship. Kris Jenkins’ immortal shot against North Carolina not only booked Villanova a spot among the top college basketball programs, but also confirmed Wright’s status as a top coach in the country.
The 2016 run christened the Wildcats a lethal opponent any season, but the 2018 team gifted the crown jewel to Wright and his program. While the 2016 championship victory may be more memorable, there is no question that the 2018 run was more dominant. A team bolstered by five future NBA players steamrolled competition throughout the NCAA tournament, delivering Villanova its third national title.
At 59 years old, Wright’s résumé already reads like a hall of fame coach. After bouncing around the country in the years before Villanova, he seems to have found his home in the northwestern suburb of Philadelphia. NBA suitors have been well documented and persistent although always turned away. Wherever he chooses to finish his career, Wright has inscribed his name in the annals of basketball history.
