The college basketball world had another one of its coaching pillars step away from the spotlight on Wednesday, when Hall of Famer Jay Wright announced he was resigning from the head coaching role at Villanova.

Wright, who coached the Wildcats’ men’s basketball team for 21 seasons and the Hofstra men’s team for seven seasons prior, amassed 642 wins as a head coach. Despite four meetings against UNC, though, Wright’s teams only ever managed one win — but it came in the 2016 national title game.

After leading the Wildcats to the Final Four again this season, Wright joined former UNC head coach Roy Williams and Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski as multiple title-winning coaches in stepping down from their institutions. While many believe Wright’s move to be a retirement, the 60-year-old did not make clear in his farewell statement to Nova fans what his next steps are beyond moving to a different capacity within the university.

Still, on Wednesday, both Williams and his successor at UNC, Hubert Davis, shared their thoughts on Wright’s impact on the game of basketball.

Williams told the New York Times in a phone interview that he was “surprised” about Wright’s decision.

“Jay is just 60, he’s got so much more time for the game,” Williams told college basketball writer Adam Zagoria, “but I love it because he made the decision for what was right for him and his family and I can live with that. Jay’s one of the giants of our game, he’s a great friend.”

Williams also spoke to college basketball reporter Andy Katz, who shared the Hall of Famer’s thoughts on Twitter.

UNC men’s basketball also shared Davis’ sentiments towards Wright on Twitter.

“Everyone knows Coach Wright is an elite coach,” said Davis. “But in my first year as head coach he went out of his way to share wisdom I will never forget. College basketball will miss him and so will I.”

Just minutes after the Villanova program acknowledged Wright’s decision, it announced the hiring of Kyle Neptune, who served on the Villanova coaching staff before becoming the head coaching position at Fordham in 2021.

Photo via AP Photo/David J. Phillip.

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