Statement by Andrew McKeough on the Resignation of Coach Jay Wright

EXECUTIVE OFFICE

Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release | April 20, 2022


Statement by Andrew McKeough on the Resignation of
Villanova Basketball Head Coach Jay Wright

Words cannot describe the flow of emotions felt tonight. Some have been bittersweet, happy, and overwhelming. The weight of all of the memories that I have shared with Coach Wright seemed to swarm back as I heard the news while sitting in the Finneran Pavilion tonight. Coach Wright has had a large impact on my life. From my earliest memories of attending a Villanova basketball game as a kid to becoming a Wildcat myself and launching my career with Villanova. I spent the better part of four years following just paces behind him as I covered Coach Wright as a photojournalist. During that time I got to witness a side of Coach Wright that many don’t and make images of that side of Coach Wright that fans rarely saw. His commitment to Villanova’s motto of “Veritas, Unitas, and Caritas” became a launching board for his dedication to the team and the University. He stressed the importance of words such as “Attitude” and maintaining a “Humble and Hungry” lifestyle. No person at Villanova can say that Coach Wright hasn’t treated them with anything but respect and thoughtfulness. Coach Wright’s presence as the Head Coach of Villanova Basketball will be missed and will leave a shoe size that far out numbers that of the largest basketball player. Who better to fill those shoes than Villanova’s own Kyle Neptune. I have nothing but admiration for Coach Neptune and I know that his arrival back at Villanova is more of a homecoming years in the making. I can think of no one else who can continue Coach Wright’s legacy at Villanova than Coach Neptune. I’ll close with this. Villanova is a better place today because of Coach Wright. For lack of better terms, he did things the [W]right way and created a legacy at Villanova that has been - and will continue to be - written in the history books. Thank you Coach for the years of dedication and inspiration. Can’t wait to see what’s next on this journey.

-Andrew K. McKeough