PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Villanova University men's basketball coach Jay Wright has been a conference champion, a national champion and even a world champion. Now he's adding Hall of Famer to his list of accolades.
Wright was announced Sunday as an inductee in the 2021 class of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, though he and all of this year's inductees were first notified on Wednesday. One of the biggest challenges was to keep it a secret for four days.
Wright traveled up the the Hall over the weekend, with the rest of the soon-to-be members, giving him a chance to gather his emotions.
"It was stunning. It was emotional," said Wright.
"You're overwhelmed. It's just incredible that you're there. You love basketball, and you love all the people that are in the game, and you’re hanging with them on their level."
Wright has spent 19 seasons as head coach of the Wildcats, with a record boasting more than 600 wins. He brought two National Championships to the Main Line as well, in 2016 and 2018.
In addition to his NCAA title wins, Wright has led Villanova to six Big East Conference Championships, and 14 NCAA Tournament appearances.
Prior to joining Villanova, Wright served as head coach at Hofstra University, and led them to back to back NCAA Tournament appearances in 2000 and 2001.
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Wright was also active on the global stage, coaching Team USA to a gold medal at the 2005 World University Games.
Wright says his phone has blown up with texts and voice mail messages since the news broke on Sunday. He said each message is a reminder of the many people who helped him along the way.
"Every one of those texts makes you just appreciate the journey and realize how blessed you are with all the people that have been in your life," he said. "It’s been an emotional day that way."
It will be an even more emotional day when the ceremony comes in September. He is hoping one day his mentor, the late Rollie Massimino, will also be inducted. When he enters the Hall, Wright said he will, as always, be doing his best to represent Villanova.
"I'm just so proud that Villanova will be enshrined," Wright said. "Villanova basketball will be enshrined and all the guys that played for us and this great tradition gets recognized. I’m really representing Villanova. That's why I'm going in there."
"While the numerous championships, wins and awards Jay has amassed over his career are impressive, I am the most proud of the culture he has created and the program he has built here at Villanova," said Villanova University President Rev. Peter Donahue.
"He is a consummate professional and a humble leader who has been a positive influence — on and off the court — to the countless student-athletes he has coached over the years, and I can think of no one more deserving of a place in the Hall of Fame."
Wright will join eight other honorees in the 2021 class, including Rick Adelman, the NBA's ninth-winningest coach, 10-time All-Star Paul Pierce, 12-time All-Star and first-ever Black NBA coach Bill Russell, who was previously inducted as a player. Two-time Olympic gold medalist Yolanda Griffith and three-time WNBA MVP Lauren Jackson will also be inducted.
The 2021 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place on September 11, 2021, in Springfield, Massachusetts.