How Jay Wright (basketball) built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Jay Wright is a highly successful former American college basketball coach, most notably at Villanova University from 2001-2022. He guided Villanova to sustained success, including six Big East Conference titles, 16 NCAA tournament appearances, four Final Four berths, and two national championships in 2016 and 2018. His leadership established Villanova as a perennial powerhouse in college basketball.
In 1986, Jay Wright took his first Division I assistant coach position at Drexel University.
In 1987, Jay Wright began his tenure as an assistant coach at Villanova under Rollie Massimino.
In 1992, Jay Wright moved with Rollie Massimino to UNLV to serve as an assistant coach.
In 1994, Jay Wright departed UNLV.
In 1994, Jay Wright was named the head coach at Hofstra University.
In 1994, Wright started his head coaching career at Hofstra University.
In 2000, Jay Wright led Hofstra University to an NCAA tournament appearance.
In 2000, Wright served as an assistant coach in the World Championship for Young Men Qualifying Tournament.
In 2001, Jay Wright became the head coach of Villanova University.
In 2001, Jay Wright led Hofstra University to its second consecutive NCAA tournament appearance.
In 2002, Jay Wright secured one of the top-rated recruiting classes in the country for Villanova.
In 2005, Jay Wright led Team USA to a gold medal at the World University Games as head coach.
In the 2006 NCAA tournament, Jay Wright's Villanova team earned a No. 1 seed and advanced to the Elite 8 for the first time since 1988, ultimately losing to the eventual champion Florida.
In 2007, Wright coached the American team in the Pan Am Games to a fifth-place finish, achieving a 3–2 record.
In the 2007 offseason, Wright once again came up with a highly rated recruiting class.
In the 2007 offseason, Wright secured another highly rated recruiting class.
For the 2009–10 season, Wright brought in a recruiting class in the top five of the national rankings.
In 2009, Jay Wright led Villanova to the Final Four.
In 2016, Jay Wright led Villanova to win the national championship.
On April 8, 2018, Ashley Howard, the assistant head coach, left Villanova to become the head coach at La Salle University, a Philadelphia Big 5 rival.
In 2018, Jay Wright led Villanova to win their second national championship under his leadership.
In 2022, Jay Wright retired from his position as the head coach of Villanova University.