Jay Wright (basketball)

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Jay Wright (basketball) bigraphy, stories - American basketball coach

Jay Wright (basketball) : biography

24 December 1961 –

Jerold Taylor "Jay" Wright, Jr. (born December 24, 1961) is an American basketball coach. He is currently the men’s coach at Villanova University. He was born in Churchville, Pennsylvania, U.S., and is married to a former Villanova cheerleader. In 2006, Wright signed a seven-year contract extension with Villanova University which would keep him in the position through the 2012–2013 season.

USA Basketball

Wright has coached, as a head coach or assistant coach, United States basketball teams three times in international competitions. He led Team USA to a gold medal at the 2005 University Games as head coach, and was an assistant coach in the 2000 World Championship for Young Men Qualifying Tournament. Wright coached the American team in the 2007 Pan Am Games to a fifth place finish, with a 3–2 record. Wright’s name has been mentioned as a candidate to coach the United States team in the 2012 Olympics.

NBA Players coached by Wright

  • Speedy Claxton, Hofstra, Drafted 2000, #20 overall, Played in NBA 2000–2010
  • Norman Richardson, Hofstra, Undrafted free agent signed in 2001, played in NBA for 2001–2002 season with the Indiana Pacers and Chicago Bulls
  • Allan Ray, Villanova, Undrafted free agent signed in 2006, Played in NBA 2006
  • Randy Foye, Villanova, Drafted 2006, #7 overall, Played in NBA 2006–current
  • Kyle Lowry, Villanova, Drafted 2006, #24 overall, Played in NBA 2006–current
  • Dante Cunningham, Villanova, Drafted 2009, #33 overall, Played in NBA 2009–current
  • Maalik Wayns, Villanova, Undrafted free agent signed in 2012, Played in NBA 2012-current

Head coaching record

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Fashionable Four

Jay Wright is a multiple winner of GQ’s Fashionable Four, an award given to the best dressed coach in college basketball.

Biography

Education

Wright is a graduate of Council Rock High School North in Newtown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Bucknell University, in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, in 1983, where he played on the basketball team and became a Brother of the Sigma Chi fraternity.

Coaching career

Early coaching career

Upon graduating from college, Wright got his first job as an assistant coach at Division III University of Rochester. In 1986, he got his first position in Division I college basketball as an assistant coach at Drexel University. His next job came as an assistant to Rollie Massimino at Villanova, where he remained from 1987–1992. In 1992, he moved with Massimino to UNLV, where he remained until 1994.

Hofstra

In 1994, Wright was named head coach at Hofstra University, which had struggled through most of the 1980s and early 90’s. Under Wright, the program slowly and steadily improved, and by 1999 the Pride were a premier team in the America East Conference. They won the conference championship in 2000 and 2001, and from 1999–2001, went 72–22, including two NCAA tournament appearances. Wright was named America East Coach of the Year in 1999–2000 and 2000–2001. He was also tabbed Eastern Basketball’s Coach of the Year in 1999–2000.

Wright took the Pride to the Postseason three times:

  • 1999 NIT: Hofstra was defeated by Rutgers University 58–45 in the first round
  • 2000 NCAA Tournament: As a #14 seed, Hofstra lost to Oklahoma State University 86–66 in the first round.
  • 2001 NCAA Tournament: #13 seed Hofstra was defeated in the first round 61–48 by UCLA.

Villanova

2001 – 2004 Seasons: NIT

On March 27, 2001, Wright was named head coach at Villanova, becoming the eighth coach in the 81-year history of the program. Wright inherited a mediocre team from previous coach Steve Lappas, and in Wright’s first season, they made the NIT. In 2002, Wright was able to secure one of the top rated recruiting classes in the country, led by McDonald’s All-American center Jason Fraser. However the Wildcats had a mediocre 2002–2003 season, which was marred by a phone card abuse scandal that eventually resulted in suspensions to over half the roster, though penalties from the NCAA were avoided. The Wildcats again made the NIT but did not advance far. The 2003–2004 season saw more playing time for the talented young players from the previous recruiting class, but it also resulted in a mediocre season and another NIT appearance.