History of Jay Wright (basketball) in Timeline
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.
December 24, 1961: Jay Wright Born
On December 24, 1961, Jerold Taylor "Jay" Wright Jr. was born. He later became the head coach of Villanova University.
1977: Hofstra secured a berth in the NCAA tournament
Hofstra secured a berth in the NCAA tournament, for the school's first appearance since 1977.
1977: Hofstra Had No NCAA Tournament Appearances
Prior to Jay Wright's arrival, Hofstra had no NCAA tournament appearances since 1977.
1980: Hofstra Had Losing Season
Prior to Jay Wright's arrival, Hofstra had only one season with 20 or more wins since 1980.
1983: Graduated from Bucknell University
In 1983, Jay Wright graduated from Bucknell University, where he played on the basketball team and was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity.
1985: Villanova's First Final Four
In 2008–09 Reynolds came up big with a game-winning shot to put Villanova back in the Final Four for the first time since their national championship run in 1985.
1985: Villanova Championship
In addition to the record shattering 44-point defeat of Oklahoma in the Final Four, the 2016 championship run included numerous other notable achievements. Villanova was the first school without an FBS football program to win the NCAA men's title since Villanova's own championship in 1985.
1986: Assistant Coach at Drexel University
In 1986, Jay Wright took his first Division I assistant coach position at Drexel University.
1987: Assistant Coach at Villanova
In 1987, Jay Wright began his tenure as an assistant coach at Villanova under Rollie Massimino.
1988: Elite 8 Appearance
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.
1991: Hofstra's First 20-Win Season
In 1991–92 Hofstra secured their first 20-win season since the 1991-1992 season.
1992: Assistant Coach at UNLV
In 1992, Jay Wright moved with Rollie Massimino to UNLV to serve as an assistant coach.
1994: Named Head Coach at Hofstra University
In 1994, Jay Wright was named the head coach at Hofstra University.
1994: Head Coaching Role at Hofstra
In 1994, Wright started his head coaching career at Hofstra University.
1997: Improving Hofstra's Performance
In 1997, The Flying Dutchmen secured their first winning season for 12 years.
1998: Runway to the Fashionable Four Award
In 1998, Jay Wright won The Runway to the Fashionable Four, an award for the best-dressed coach in college basketball.
1998: Another Semi-Final AEC Tournament Exit
In 1998, there was a third-place finish in the conference, and another semi-final AEC tournament exit.
1999: Hofstra's First NIT Appearance
In 1999, Hofstra had their first 20-win season since 1991–92, they secured a bid to the 1999 National Invitation Tournament, the school's first ever appearance in the tournament, and their first postseason appearance in 22 years.
1999: America East Coach of the Year
In 1999, Jay Wright was named America East Coach of the Year.
1999: First NCAA tournament
In 2004–05, it marked the Wildcats' first appearance in the NCAA tournament since 1999.
2000: Hofstra NCAA Tournament Appearance
In 2000, Jay Wright led Hofstra University to an NCAA tournament appearance.
2000: America East Coach of the Year
In 2000, Jay Wright was named America East Coach of the Year.
2000: Assistant coach in World Championship
In 2000, Wright served as an assistant coach in the World Championship for Young Men Qualifying Tournament.
2001: Hired as Villanova Head Coach
In 2001, Jay Wright became the head coach of Villanova University.
2001: Hofstra NCAA Tournament Appearance
In 2001, Jay Wright led Hofstra University to its second consecutive NCAA tournament appearance.
2001: America East Coach of the Year
In 2001, Jay Wright was named America East Coach of the Year.
2002: Secured Top-Rated Recruiting Class
In 2002, Jay Wright secured one of the top-rated recruiting classes in the country for Villanova.
2002: Runway to the Fashionable Four Award
In 2002, Jay Wright won The Runway to the Fashionable Four, an award for the best-dressed coach in college basketball.
2003: Phone Card Abuse Scandal
In 2003, Villanova's season was marred by a phone card abuse scandal resulting in suspensions.
2004: NIT Appearance
In 2004, Villanova made another NIT appearance, advancing to the quarterfinals.
2005: Gold medal at World University Games
In 2005, Jay Wright led Team USA to a gold medal at the World University Games as head coach.
2005: National Coach of the Year Honors
In 2005–06, Jay Wright received national coach of the year honors from various organizations and was named Big East Coach of the Year.
2005: Ranked in Preseason Top Four
In 2005–06, the Wildcats were ranked in the preseason top four of both major polls.
2006: Made it back to the NCAA tournament
In 2006–07 squad made it back to the NCAA tournament for the third straight season.
2006: Earned No. 1 Seed and Elite 8 Appearance
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.
2007: Pan Am Games
In 2007, Wright coached the American team in the Pan Am Games to a fifth-place finish, achieving a 3–2 record.
2007: Recruiting Class
In the 2007 offseason, Wright once again came up with a highly rated recruiting class.
2007: Highly Rated Recruiting Class
In the 2007 offseason, Wright secured another highly rated recruiting class.
2008: Made to NCAA tournament
In the 2007–08 season Villanova struggle at times. Wright and the Wildcats were able to rebound to get a 12 seed (the final at-large seed) in the NCAA tournament.
2009: Top Recruiting Class
For the 2009–10 season, Wright brought in a recruiting class in the top five of the national rankings.
2009: Villanova Reaches Final Four
In 2009, Jay Wright led Villanova to the Final Four.
2015: NCAA Tournament Loss
In the 2015 NCAA tournament, Villanova was the #1 seed in the East and lost in the second round to North Carolina State, the #8 seed.
2016: Won First National Championship
In 2016, Jay Wright led Villanova to win the national championship.
2016: Numerous Notable Achievements
The 2016 championship run included numerous notable achievements for Villanova, including being the first school without an FBS football program to win the NCAA men's title since Villanova's own championship in 1985.
2017: NCAA Tournament Loss
In the 2017 NCAA tournament, Villanova was the #1 seed in the East and lost in the second round to Wisconsin, the #8 seed.
April 8, 2018: Assistant head coach departure
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.
2018: Won Second National Championship
In 2018, Jay Wright led Villanova to win their second national championship under his leadership.
2018: NBA draft losses and young squad
In 2018, Villanova faced significant departures as Mikal Bridges, Donte DiVincenzo, Omari Spellman, and Jalen Brunson were all selected in the NBA draft, leaving Wright with a young and inexperienced squad for the upcoming season.
2021: Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
In 2021, Jay Wright was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
2022: Retirement from Villanova
In 2022, Jay Wright retired from his position as the head coach of Villanova University.
