One of the top jobs in college basketball just opened up again.
Villanova fired Kyle Neptune on Saturday, two days after the Wildcats were eliminated from the Big East Tournament by UConn in the quarterfinals.
They own a 19-14 overall record and an 11-9 mark in the conference, and will very likely be on the outside looking in for the NCAA Tournament.
Villanova fired Kyle Neptune after three seasons in charge. Getty Images
If they do miss out on the NCAA Tournament, it means Neptune will end his Villanova tenure without ever leading the storied program to the Big Dance.
He was in charge for three seasons, owning a 54-47 overall record.
Villanova failed to make the NCAA Tournament during Kyle Neptune’s tenure. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The 40-year-old succeeded the legendary Jay Wright, who retired in 2022 after 21 seasons in charge and led Villanova to two national championships and four Final Four appearances, including in his final season on the bench.
Neptune had served as an assistant on Wright’s staff before leaving to coach Fordham for one season and then returning to take over at Villanova.
“Since coming to Villanova, I have been struck by Kyle’s tireless work ethic and his dedication to the student-athletes he served,” Villanova’s vice president and director of athletics Eric Roedl said in a statement. “We are grateful to Kyle for his long service to Villanova and his mentorship to the many outstanding young men he has coached.”
