Between his engaging personality, well-coiffed hair and endless array of custom-fitted suits, Jay Wright seemed destined to end up on television after retiring as Villanova’s men’s basketball coach in 2022.
After three years on camera, though, he’s stepping away.
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Wright announced on Aug. 28 that he will no longer be working full-time as a college basketball analyst for CBS and TNT Sports, a move he says will allow him to focus more on his role as a special assistant to the president at Villanova and spend more quality time with his family.
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The 63-year-old Wright worked for CBS and the Turner family of networks as both a game analyst and a studio show pundit. He became one of the in-studio anchors of NCAA men’s basketball tournament coverage over the past three seasons.
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In a post on social media, Wright added that he’s looking forward to “staying connected and collaborating” with the networks on “future projects.”
In 21 seasons as Villanova’s coach, Wright transformed the Wildcats from a middling Big East program to a national power, going 520-197 and winning two national championships. In 2021, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
He stunned much of the college basketball world when he retired in April 2022, only about two weeks after he led Villanova to its fourth Final Four of his tenure. At the time, Wright said he lacked the same “edge” in his final season that he had throughout his coaching career.
Immediately after his retirement, Wright was appointed as a special assistant to the president at the university. In that position, the six-time Big East coach of the year is involved with fundraising, advising and education.
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While his exit from broadcasting would have fueled endless speculation this time a year ago about a return to the Villanova sideline, that shouldn’t be the case now. In March, the Wildcats fired Kyle Neptune, Wright’s successor and former assistant coach, and replaced him with former Maryland head coach Kevin Willard.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jay Wright stepping away from broadcasting to focus on role at Villanova
