Villanova Wildcats head coach Jay Wright Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Villanova HC Jay Wright retires from coaching

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 4/20/22

According to The Athletic's Shams Charania, Jay Wright is stepping down as head coach of the Villanova Wildcats and retiring from coaching.

Charania tweeted that "Wright's decision to retire after 21 legendary seasons as Villanova head coach is based largely on wanting to spend more time with his family, including his wife Patty and three children."

Sources say Jay Wright’s decision to retire after 21 legendary seasons as Villanova head coach is based largely to wanting to spend more time with his family, including his wife Patty and three children. https://t.co/0A1iWPNSTC
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 20, 2022

The two-time Naismith Coach of the Year has been the head coach at Villanova since 2001. But over the years, several high-profile NCAA and NBA teams have shown interest in Wright.

A report from ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reiterates Wright's intention to retire from Villanova and from coaching entirely, meaning a job with another college or NBA team doesn't appear to be in Wright's future.

There's been significant NBA interest in Jay Wright through the years, but sources tell ESPN that his intention is to retire from coaching --- not only Villanova. Those who've talked to Wright don't believe the NBA holds appeal to him -- not now, or in future.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 20, 2022

"Wright had the opportunity to coach with Gregg Popovich on the Team USA staff and enjoyed the experience, but never came close to leaving Villanova for NBA jobs," Wojnarowski noted.

Wright helped lead the Wildcats to the Final Four earlier this month, where they fell to the Kansas Jayhawks.

The six-time Big East Coach of the Year has a 520-197 record at Villanova. He's led the Wildcats to NCAA national titles in 2016 and 2018, along with four Final Four appearances.

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