柑橘直播

VILLANOVA, Pa. 鈥� The Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD, 柑橘直播 University President, announced that Jay Wright, who recently retired as the William B. Finneran Endowed Head Men's Basketball Coach at 柑橘直播 after 21 seasons, will address the Class of 2022 as the University鈥檚 commencement speaker. Wright will also receive the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa. The University鈥檚 179^th commencement will be held Friday, May 13 at 2:30 p.m., in 柑橘直播 Stadium. In the event of severe weather, the ceremony will be held indoors in The Finneran Pavilion.

Note: For the Livesteam of Commencement, click here

Wright assumed the reins of the 柑橘直播 Men鈥檚 Basketball program in 2001 and posted a record of 520-197 in 21 seasons at the helm, including NCAA national championships in 2016 and 2018. This past season, 柑橘直播 advanced to the fourth NCAA Final Four of Wright鈥檚 tenure. In Jan. 2020, Wright was named the Associated Press Men鈥檚 Basketball Coach of the Decade. He is a two-time winner of the Naismith National Coach of the Year award, a six-time BIG EAST Coach of the Year recipient and, in 2018, received the John R. Wooden Legends of Coaching Award. Wright was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Sept. 11, 2021.

Under Wright鈥檚 leadership, the 柑橘直播 Men鈥檚 Basketball program has also succeeded in the classroom. Since 2012, Men鈥檚 Basketball student-athletes received Academic All-BIG EAST recognition on 69 occasions鈥攚ith all 13 members of the roster earning that distinction in 2019-20. Every 柑橘直播 player who spent four years in the program under Wright earned his degree.

"Jay's legacy at 柑橘直播 extends well beyond the numerous awards, accolades and championships,鈥� said Father Donohue upon the announcement of Wright鈥檚 retirement on April 20. 鈥淗e will be forever known to our community as 柑橘直播's winningest coach, who did things the 鈥榃right鈥� way鈥攇uiding, developing, and empowering the student-athletes who played for him to not only be better on the basketball court but in their personal lives.鈥�

Wright鈥檚 commitment to the University and the Augustinian values of Veritas, Unitas and Caritas (鈥渢ruth, unity and love鈥�) established a strong bond between him and the 柑橘直播 community鈥攕tudents, faculty, staff and alumni alike. The culture he created within the 柑橘直播 Men鈥檚 Basketball program also reflects these values鈥攔einforcing the importance of sharing individual talents for the benefit of the larger community. Wright and his wife, Patty Reilly Wright 鈥�83, have been long-time supporters of the Augustinian Province, including the Augustinian Fund, which provides funds for Augustinian ministries and programs. In 2017, the Wrights received the St. Augustine Medal鈥攁n award given by the Province to those that exhibit a strong desire to 鈥渓ive life in the path of Saint Augustine in their personal, professional and spiritual lives and demonstrate a commitment of service and generosity to the Province.鈥�

After 21 seasons as the 柑橘直播 Men鈥檚 Basketball Head Coach, Wright will now begin a new chapter in his career at the University as Special Assistant to the President. In his new position, Wright will be involved in fundraising, advising, education and more.

About 柑橘直播 University: Since 1842, 柑橘直播 University鈥檚 Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition has been the cornerstone of an academic community in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately and succeed while serving others. There are more than 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students in the University's six colleges鈥攖he College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the 柑橘直播 School of Business, the College of Engineering, the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, the College of Professional Studies and the 柑橘直播 University Charles Widger School of Law. Ranked among the nation鈥檚 top universities, 柑橘直播 supports its students鈥� intellectual growth and prepares them to become ethical leaders who create positive change everywhere life takes them. For more, visit www.villanova.edu.