Former Villanova head coach Jay Wright has been mentioned frequently as a possible candidate for the New York Knicks head coaching job, but that speculation does not appear to be based in reality.
Wright is not a candidate for the Knicks vacancy, according to Stefan Bondy of the New York Post. Wright is close with Knicks president Leon Rose, and reportedly has made clear to Rose that he is happy in retirement.
League source: Jay Wright is not a candidate for the vacant Knicks job. He and Leon Rose are close and Leon understands Jay is happy in retirement.
— Stefan Bondy (@SbondyNBA) June 7, 2025
The Knicks have three players with Villanova connections, including star guard Jalen Brunson. For that reason, the speculation involving Wright was inevitable. Some oddsmakers even listed him as one of the favorites for the job.
Wright is only 63, but since retiring from Villanova in 2022, he has shown no interest in coaching again at any level. He has instead stuck to doing television work for CBS, and appears firmly committed to retirement.
Despite the extensive success at the college level and ties to several Knicks players, Wright would have been a risky choice, as he has never coached at the NBA level. For the moment, the Knicks appear to be focusing on current NBA head coaches to replace the fired Tom Thibodeau.
