Jay Wright snubs Knicks head coach job after Tom Thibodeau firing… despite close links to team
Legendary college basketball head coach Jay Wright has no interest in returning to the sidelines, reportedly declining interest in the vacant New York Knicks head-coaching job.
Wright has been away from coaching since stepping down as Villanova’s coach in 2022 after 21 years leading the Wildcats.
In his time at the private-school powerhouse, Wright had a 520-197 record and won two national titles.
Wright, 63, trading in his broadcast job for a clipboard again generated serious fan interest after Tom Thibodeau was fired as the team’s coach on Tuesday, combined with three Villanova alumni in the Knicks’ core.
Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges all played for Wright in the Philadelphia suburb.
A Big East reunion is not in the cards in the Big Apple, per Seth Davis.
Legendary college basketball coach Jay Wright has no interest in returning to the sidelines
Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges all played for Wright as Villanova’s head coach
Wright has worked for both CBS Sports and TNT Sports since his Villanova career ended.
The Knicks’ vacancy underscores the team’s desire to win a championship, with the eventual hire needing to hang a banner inside Madison Square Garden for it to be seen as a successful tenure.
Wright no doubt has the basketball pedigree to be considered able to pull off the feat. Now, the Knicks will look elsewhere.
The team was linked with Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd earlier this week, while another longshot, home-run hire in Dan Hurley still exists.
Other options include Cavaliers assistant Johnnie Bryant and former Nuggets head coach Michael Malone among coaches with connections to the team or available leaders with previous championships.
