Despite rumors that Jay Wright has emerged as the top choice to become the head coach of the Phoenix Suns, he says he doesn’t intend to leave Villanova but didn’t completely rule out the possibility of going to the NBA.
“I can say right now that in my mind I plan to stay at Villanova,” Wright said Friday in an exclusive interview with ESPN.com’s Dana O’Neil. “But I also don’t want to be a liar. I want to stay. I know I want to stay, but I just say I hope I can stay because I’ve learned from the past how crazy things can be. I hope I can stay at Villanova because this is where I want to be.”
And while Wright said he talks to NBA GMs regularly regarding players going to the pros, he hasn’t been offered a job.
“Being in college basketball 30 years, all of the GMs are friends of mine and we talk all the time, especially this time of year,” he said. “We talk about my players going into the NBA and some of my other guys who are already there about trades and things. We talk all the time, but when you win a national championship, it gets blown up into you’ve been offered. I have not gotten offered any jobs.”
Villanova has gone to the NCAA tournament in 11 of Wright’s 15 seasons as coach, and the Wildcats recently won their first national championship since 1985. Wright has it made in college, but if the right team were to come calling, it might be enough to pry him away from his beloved Villanova.
