NBA Rumors: New York Knicks Add NCAA Champion As Head Coach Candidate

The New York Knicks continue their hunt for the head coach that will lead them out of the rebuilding phase. There have been high-profile names in the mix, with former Coach of the Year Tom Thibodeau as a possible candidate. Speculation has risen that two-time NCAA Champion Jay Wright is once again sought after by the organization.

Wright has an outstanding coaching resume with the NCAA. The accolades he has achieved will most likely send him to the Hall of Fame one day. He is the current head coach of the Villanova Wildcats and has brought success to the university. March Madness is nothing new to Wright as he’s won the tournament on two separate occasions.

His first NCAA tournament championship was in 2016 where the Wildcats defeated the North Carolina Tarheels 77-74 – featuring a buzzer-beating three by Kris Jenkins to win the championship. Wright’s second title was in 2018 where his team defeated the Michigan Wolverines 79-62. That Villanova squad included Golden State Warrior standout Eric Paschall leading the charge at the power forward slot. He has also coached other NBA players, including All-Star Kyle Lowry. Lowry served as Wright’s point guard from 2004 to 2006.

The New York Knicks see his decorated basketball career as a fit for the organization. This hasn’t been the first time he’s included in the rumor mill for the Knicks’ head coach position. He’s said before that he enjoys working with Villanova and what he does in his job. As reported by The Athletic by way of NBC Sports, Wright shared that he’s already happy with his position. “The NBA does intrigue me. That challenge is appealing, but it’s not worth giving up working with these guys,” he said.

The firing of David Fizdale saw interim head coach Mike Miller take the charge of the team. The Knicks are now in 13th place in the Eastern Conference. They are at 17-38 and are struggling to find themselves back to the playoff picture.