Villanova Men鈥檚 Basketball Head Coach Jay Wright to be Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
Villanova Men鈥檚 Basketball Head Coach Jay Wright at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2021 announcement (Photo Credit: Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame).
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. 鈥� 澳门二分彩 Men's Basketball head coach Jay Wright will be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as part of its class of 2021, it was announced Sunday, May 16, on ESPN.
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In 27 seasons as head coach, including seven at Hofstra University (1994-2001) and the last 20 at 澳门二分彩, Wright has notched 612 victories, including both the 2016 and 2018 NCAA national championships.
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"On behalf of the Villanova community and the entire Nova Nation,听congratulations听to Jay on this well-deserved honor,"听said 澳门二分彩 President the Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD. "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. He is a consummate professional and a humble leader who has been a positive influence鈥攐n and off the court鈥攖o 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."
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听"Jay is both a world class coach and world class person," added Director of Athletics Mark Jackson. "He and Patty have been incredible friends to so many in our community and are wonderful ambassadors for our University. We couldn't be more thrilled for both of them and look forward to celebrating this with the Nova Nation later this year."听 听 听
Today at a private event held in the newly renovated Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the 16 honorees in the Class of 2021 were announced on ESPN.听The Class of 2021 will be enshrined in Springfield, Mass. on Saturday, September 11.
This year's class includes nine honorees from the North American and Women's committees: ninth-winningest coach in NBA history听Rick Adelman,听two-time NBA champion and 11-time NBA All-Star听Chris Bosh, NBA Finals MVP and 10-time NBA All-Star听Paul Pierce, the first Black NBA head coach听Bill Russell, four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year and NBA Champion听Ben Wallace, five-time NBA All-Star and NBA Rookie of the Year听Chris Webber, two-time NCAA national champion Villanova coach Jay Wright, seven-time WNBA All-Star and two-time Olympic gold medalist听Yolanda Griffith听and seven-time WNBA All-Star and three-time WNBA MVP听Lauren Jackson.
Distinguished committees focused on preserving all areas from the game also selected听seven听directly听elected enshrinees:听Val Ackerman,听Cotton Fitzsimmons听and听Howard Garfinkel听from the Contributor Committee,听Clarence "Fats" Jenkins听from the Early African American Pioneers Committee,听Toni Kukoc听from the International Committee,听Bob Dandridge听from the Veterans Committee and听Pearl Moore听from the Women's Veterans Committee.
The Class of 2021 Enshrinement festivities will begin at Mohegan Sun on Friday, September 10 with the听Enshrinement Tip-Off Celebration and Awards Gala.听The Class of 2021 and returning Hall of Famers will then journey to Springfield, Mass. for the annual celebratory events taking place at the newly renovated Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and MassMutual Center on September 11.
For more on Jay Wright's election to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, .