Philadelphia – Villanova fired Kyle Neptune on Saturday, failing to create the NCAA tournament after three years of running after taking over Hall of Fame coach Jay Wright.
Neptune has overall reached 54-47 and 31-29 in the Big East over three seasons, including a record of 19-14 this season. The Wildcats, who won two national championships under the lights, lost to UConn in the Big East Conference Tournament Quarter Final at Madison Square Garden on Thursday night.
This was the first major decision made by Villanova alumnus Eric Rhodell, who was hired as athletic director earlier this season.
“After coming to Villanova, I was impressed by Kyle’s tireless work ethic and his dedication to the student-athletes he served,” Rhodell said in a statement. “We are grateful for the long service to Villanova and for his guidance to many excellent young men he coached.”
Neptune felt a fever this season as the Wildcats (perennial Big East winner and national title contender) became mediocre and nationally renowned. Even the regular season, which beat St. John’s and UConn, could not offset the overall lack of consistency of the season.
Neptune, 40, served under the lights of the Villanova coaching staff before accepting his head coaching position at Fordham in 2021.
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Wright, who was inducted into the Nice Miss Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021, led Villanova to the title in 2016 and 2018, leading the Wildcats to two other final four appearances. He was in 520-197 with 21 seasons at school and has been steadily present at Villanova Games. He currently works for CBS.
The Wildcats missed three consecutive NCAA tournaments in a row since Wright’s first three seasons more than 20 years ago. Wright was not given a large portion as Neptune has not been rebuilt in the mainline. The program boasts healthy nil funding and has earned one of the nation’s leading scorers this season for Eric Dixon.
Villanova was able to play at the New College Basketball Crown Tournament in Las Vegas later this month.
Assistant Mike Nardi will serve as interim head coach.
The program that once stabbed success with Villanova Way, a mini-dynasty built on the NBA-enabled upper class, is scaled down under the roster turmoil that emerged from Nil Money and the transfer portal. Every year’s roster turnover did little to build the culture that once taught New Kids the concept of Villanova basketball.
Well known and respected by everyone in the program, Neptune down criticism throughout his tenure, claiming that as fans’ uncertainty has grown on suburban campuses over the past two seasons, he has not heard the voices of fans who occasionally booed him during pre-game introductions and horde chanting “Fire Neptune”!
Wright put Villanova on the floor when he retired at age 60 just weeks after leading the Wildcats to the Final Four in 2022. Neptune was hired in the same month. He first came to Villanova in 2008 and served two seasons as a video coordinator. Neptune returned as assistant coach in 2013 and worked under the Wright as Villanova rose to the perennial final.
His success as an assistant never took over after Neptune got the top job. Villanova aims to hire only the fifth coach since 1973.
The question is, is the bond with the light important as searches for new coaches ramp up, or will Villanova look out of the program and look for a fresh start?
By Dan Gelston
