Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Nova's Jay Wright named AP coach of decade

Written by 
Published in Breaking News
Friday, 03 January 2020 11:11

The final seconds of the 2016 national title game were some of the most dramatic in college basketball history.

North Carolina's Marcus Paige hit an off-balance 3-pointer to tie the score with 4.7 seconds left, only to be upstaged when Villanova's Kris Jenkins hit a buzzer-beating, game-winning 3-pointer.

Amid all the drama, Villanova coach Jay Wright remained calm. When Jenkins let go of his shot, Wright nonchalantly said "Bang," then walked over to shake Tar Heels coach Roy Williams' hand as if the Wildcats had just won an exhibition game, not a national championship.

Smooth as one of his designer suits, Wright turned Villanova into a national powerhouse during the 2010s, leading the Wildcats to two national titles while changing the way college basketball is played.

Wright's success on the outskirts of Philadelphia made him a runaway choice as men's coach of the decade. He received 16 of 24 votes from a panel of Associated Press poll voters, well ahead of Duke's Mike Krzyzewski with five votes. Gonzaga's Mark Few, Kentucky's John Calipari and Virginia's Tony Bennett had one each.

"Jay Wright's résumé speaks for itself with two national titles in the 2010s," ESPN analyst and AP voter Dick Vitale said. "He has developed a consistent winner and has enjoyed success on and off the court. He has a special winner's mentality."

Before he arrived, Villanova was known for upsetting Georgetown in the 1985 national championship game and for the occasional trip to the NCAA tournament.

Wright needed three years to build a foundation before Villanova broke through with a trip to the 2005 Sweet 16. An Elite Eight appearance followed the next year, and the Wildcats reached the Final Four in 2009.

Villanova won its first national title under Wright in 2016 on Jenkins' shot and decimated the NCAA tournament field in 2018, winning every game by double digits on its way to the national title.

Wright has a school-record 458 wins, six Big East Conference championships, four Big East tournament titles and 14 NCAA tournament appearances to go with those two national titles.

"Honestly, we've had success because we've had really good players. We really have," Wright said. "We've had really talented guys. You can see them all playing in the NBA and see what they did."

Wright was the one pulling the strings.

He arrived at Villanova in 2001 after a successful seven-year run at Hofstra, where he led the Pride to the NCAA tournament his final two years.

Wright built the Wildcats slowly, bringing in players to fit his style while changing the program's culture. Even when Villanova became an elite program and could land higher-rated recruits, Wright still sought team-first players who fit his system.

Wright's success helped usher in an era of positionless basketball, where players can play multiple positions and nearly everyone on the roster can shoot from the perimeter.

"In my generation, coach Jay Wright's changed basketball. He's the one that kind of invented small ball, where your 4 man can shoot 3s," Texas Tech coach Chris Beard said at last year's Final Four. "They always have four guys on the floor that shoot. He's transformed basketball. The way they play, we're all kind of doing the same thing."

With the success Wright had in the 2010s, it's no wonder coaches across the country are copying his blueprint.

Read 376 times

Soccer

Raya heroics help Arsenal claim draw at Atalanta

Raya heroics help Arsenal claim draw at Atalanta

Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya secured his side a hard-earned point with a sensational double save in...

Wirtz nets 2 on UCL debut in big Leverkusen win

Wirtz nets 2 on UCL debut in big Leverkusen win

Germany's 'Invincibles' Bayer Leverkusen opened their Champions League campaign with a resounding 4-...

UCL live blog: Arsenal visit Atalanta, Barcelona go to Monaco

UCL live blog: Arsenal visit Atalanta, Barcelona go to Monaco

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe Champions League is back! Europe's premier club competition ret...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Is continuity enough to get the Bucks back into title contention?

Is continuity enough to get the Bucks back into title contention?

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsA few days after the official start of NBA free agency this summer,...

Philly mayor strikes deal with 76ers for new arena

Philly mayor strikes deal with 76ers for new arena

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsPHILADELPHIA -- The 76ers have a new teammate in their bid to build...

Baseball

A DH with 50 stolen bases?! How Shohei Ohtani transformed MLB -- again

A DH with 50 stolen bases?! How Shohei Ohtani transformed MLB -- again

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsShohei Ohtani usually sits at the end of the Los Angeles Dodgers' b...

Guardians clinch playoff spot with walk-off win

Guardians clinch playoff spot with walk-off win

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsCLEVELAND -- Andres Gimenez singled home Jose Ramirez from second b...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated