< Previous18 n COACHING STAFF 2021-22 VILLANOVA BASKETBALL 2 0 2 1 - 2 2 JAY WRIGHT Akron . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-0 Alabama . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-1 Albany . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-0 American . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-0 American (PR) . . . . . . . . . . .1-0 Arizona . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-0 Arizona State . . . . . . . . . . .1-0 Army . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-0 Baylor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0-2 Belmont . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-0 Binghamton . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-0 Boston College . . . . . . . . . .5-4 Boston University . . . . . . . .9-7 Bucknell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-0 Butler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-5 California . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0-1 Canisius . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-0 Chaminade . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0-1 Cincinnati . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-3 Clemson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-0 Colgate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-1 Coll . of Charleston . . . . . . . .2-1 Colorado . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0-1 Columbia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-1 Connecticut . . . . . . . . . . . .8-12 Cornell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-0 Creighton . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-5 Dartmouth . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-0 Dayton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-1 Delaware . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16-10 Delaware State . . . . . . . . . .1-0 DePaul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22-2 Drexel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11-10 Duke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-0 Eastern Washington . . . . . .1-0 ETSU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-0 Fairfield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0-1 Fairleigh Dickinson . . . . . . .2-0 Florida . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-0 Florida Atlantic . . . . . . . . . .3-0 Florida Int . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-0 Florida State . . . . . . . . . . . .1-0 Fordham . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6-1 Furman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0-1 George Mason . . . . . . . . . . . .2-1 Georgetown . . . . . . . . . . .22-13 Georgia Tech . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-1 Gonzaga . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-0 Grambling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-0 Hartford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-4 Hawaii-Pacific . . . . . . . . . . .1-0 Hofstra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-0 Houston Baptist . . . . . . . . .1-0 Illinois . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-0 Iona . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-2 Iowa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-0 Kansas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-3 Kentucky . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0-1 Lafayette . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6-0 La Salle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17-2 Lehigh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-1 Longwood . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-0 Louisiana Tech . . . . . . . . . .1-0 Louisville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6-6 Loyola Mary . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-0 LSU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-0 Maine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10-4 Manhattan . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-3 Marist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-0 Marquette . . . . . . . . . . . . .22-10 Maryland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-1 Maryland E . Shore . . . . . . .1-0 Marshall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-0 Memphis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0-2 Miami . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-3 Michigan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-1 Michigan State . . . . . . . . . . .1-0 Middle Tennessee . . . . . . . .2-0 Milwaukee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-0 Missouri . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0-1 Mississippi . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-0 Mississippi State . . . . . . . . .1-0 Monmouth . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6-0 Morgan State . . . . . . . . . . . .1-0 Mount St . Mary’s . . . . . . . . .2-0 UMKC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0-1 Navy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-0 Nebraska . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-0 New Hampshire . . . . . . . . .10-4 NJIT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-0 New Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-0 New Mexico St . . . . . . . . . . .0-1 Niagara . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-0 Nicholls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-0 North Carolina . . . . . . . . . . . .1-3 North Carolina State . . . . .0-2 North Texas . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-0 Northeastern . . . . . . . . . . . .11-5 Northern Ill . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-0 Northwood . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-0 Notre Dame . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-7 Ohio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-0 Ohio State . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0-2 Oklahoma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-1 Oklahoma State . . . . . . . . . .1-1 Penn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17-4 Penn State . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0-1 Pittsburgh . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-12 Providence . . . . . . . . . . . . .27-11 Purdue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-1 Quinnipiac . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-0 Redlands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-0 Rhode Island . . . . . . . . . . . .1-0 Rider . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-0 Rutgers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13-5 St . John’s . . . . . . . . . . . . .25-10 St . Mary’s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-1 Saint Joseph’s . . . . . . . . . .16-4 Saint Louis . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0-1 Santa Clara . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-1 Seton Hall . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25-8 Siena . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-1 Southern Miss . . . . . . . . . . .0-1 SW Texas St . . . . . . . . . . . . .0-1 Stanford` . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-0 Stony Brook . . . . . . . . . . . .10-0 Syracuse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-9 Temple . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15-5 Tennessee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-1 Texas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-2 Texas Tech . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-0 Towson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13-1 UCLA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-1 UC Riverside . . . . . . . . . . . .1-0 UDC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-0 UMBC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-0 UNC Asheville . . . . . . . . . . .1-0 UNCG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-0 UCF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-0 UNI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-0 USC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-0 USF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6-4 Vanderbilt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-1 VCU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-0 Vermont . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8-8 Villanova . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0-2 Virginia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-1 VMI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-0 Virginia Tech . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-1 Wake Forest . . . . . . . . . . . .1-0 West Virginia . . . . . . . . . . . .6-8 Western Michigan . . . . . . . 1-0 Western Kentucky . . . . . . 1-0 Wichita State . . . . . . . . . . . .1-0 Winthrop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-0 Xavier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14-4 Yale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0-1 Youngstown St . . . . . . . . . . .2-0 WRIGHT VS. OPPONENTS2021-22 VILLANOVA BASKETBALL COACHING STAFF n 19 2 0 2 1 - 2 2 JAY WRIGHT as head coach – including a successful seven-year stint at Hofstra University from 1994-2001 – is 612-274 ( .690) . This is Wright’s second stint at Vil- lanova . He served as an assistant to the late Rollie Massimino from 1987-92 . The Wildcats have succeeded on the academic side too . Since 2012, the Wild- cats have received Academic All-BIG EAST recognition on 69 occasions and all 13 members of the roster earned that distinction in 2019-20 . Brunson was named a second team CoSIDA Academ- ic All-American in 2018 and teammate Matt Kennedy received the NCAA Elite 90 Award at the Final Four . Every Vil- lanova player who has spent four years in the program since 1975 has earned his degree . In 2018 Wright received the John R . Wooden Legends of Coaching Award in Los Angeles . He is a two-time winner of the Naismith National Coach of the Year award (2006 and 2016) and in 2018-19 became the first man in BIG EAST histo- ry to be selected as the league’s Coach of the Year six times . Wright is married to the former Patri- cia Reilly . The couple has two sons, Tay- lor (28) and Colin (27) and a daughter Reilly (22) . Patty and Jay Wright were honored with the inaugural Saint Augus- tine Medal in April 2017 . Wright’s book “Attitude”, published in 2017, was a New York Times bestseller . Jay Wright with the 2021 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame induction class20 n COACHING STAFF 2021-22 VILLANOVA BASKETBALL 2 0 2 1 - 2 2 JAY WRIGHT Jay and Patty Wright Year Institution Record Postseason 1994-95 Hofstra University 10-18 None 1995-96 Hofstra University 9-18 None 1996-97 Hofstra University 12-15 None 1997-98 Hofstra University 19-12 None 1998-99 Hofstra University 22-10 NIT 1999-2000 Hofstra University 24-7 NCAA 2000-2001 Hofstra University 26-5 NCAA 2001-2002 Villanova University 19-13 NIT 2002-2003 Villanova University 15-16 NIT 2003-2004 Villanova University 18-17 NIT 2004-2005 Villanova University 24-8 NCAA 2005-2006 Villanova University 28-5 NCAA 2006-2007 Villanova University 22-11 NCAA 2007-2008 Villanova University 22-13 NCAA 2008-2009 Villanova University 30-8 NCAA 2009-2010 Villanova University 25-8 NCAA 2010-2011 Villanova University 21-12 NCAA 2011-2012 Villanova University 13-19 None 2012-2013 Villanova University 20-14 NCAA 2013-2014 Villanova University 29-5 NCAA 2014-2015 Villanova University 33-3 NCAA 2015-2016 Villanova University 35-5 NCAA 2016-2017 Villanova University 32-4 NCAA 2017-2018 Villanova University 36-4 NCAA 2018-2019 Villanova University 26-10 NCAA 2019-2020 Villanova University 24-7 2020-2021 Villanova University 18-7 NCAA 26 years 612-274 DATE OF BIRTH Dec . 24, 1961 EDUCATION Council Rock H .S . (1979) Bucknell University (1983) COACHING EXPERIENCE University of Rochester Assistant Coach (1984-86) Drexel University Assistant Coach (1986-87) Villanova University Assistant Coach (1987-92) UNLV Assistant Coach (1992-94) Hofstra University Head Coach (1994-2001) Villanova University Head Coach (2001-present) JAY WRIGHT IN DEPTHYEAR-BY-YEAR WITH JAY WRIGHT Overall Record 612-274 ( .690) Villanova (2001-present) 490-189 ( .722) Hofstra (1994-2001) 122-85 ( .589) BIG EAST Regular Season 228-119 ( .654) America East Regular Season 76-49 ( .613) NCAA Record 30-15 ( .667) 17 appearances NIT Record 4-4 ( .500); four appearances Big East Tournament 21-15 ( .583) • Seven NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 Appearances (2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2016, 2018, 2021) • Four NCAA Tournament Elite Eights (2006, 2009, 2016, 2018) • Three NCAA Final Fours (2009, 2016, 2018) • Two NCAA Championships (2016, 2018) • Two-time Naismith National Coach of the Year (2006, 2016) • Six-time BIG EAST Coach of the Year (2006, 2009, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019) • 2006 NABC Coach of the Year • 2006 CBS/Chevrolet Coach of the Year • 2019-21 USA Basketball Senior Men’s Basketball Assistant Coach • 2007 Pan American Games and 2005 World University Games Head Coach (USA Basketball) JAY’S JOURNEY2021-22 VILLANOVA BASKETBALL COACHING STAFF n 21 2 0 2 1 - 2 2 VILLANOVA EXTENDED COACHING FAMILY I n the course of his quarter century as a head coach, Jay Wright has mentored a long list of assistant coaches and players who have gone on to enter the coaching profession at the college and professional levels . Ashley Howard enters his third sea- son as head coach at La Salle Univer- sity . Howard spent five seasons as a Wildcats’ assistant from 2013-18, a pe- riod during which Villanova won 165 games and a pair of national titles . Baker Dunleavy, who played from 2002-06 at Villanova and later re- turned to coach at his alma mater, be- gins his fourth season at Quinnipiac in 2020-21 . Dunleavy served as asso- ciate head coach for the 2016 NCAA national champions . Among those on the Quinnipiac staff is former Wright assistant coach Tom Pecora (Hofstra) . Another former Villanova assistant, Kyle Neptune, was named head coach at Fordham University in the spring of 2021 . The Lehigh University gradu- ate served two stints on the Wildcats staff, the first from 2008-10 as a video coordinator and from 2013-21 as an as- sistant coach . Neptune’s Fordham staff also in- cludes three other former Wildcats staffers: associate head coach Keith Urgo, Director of Operations & Devel- opment Henry Lowe and Video Coor- dinator Rob DePersia . Joe Jones, who worked with Wright as an assistant coach at both Hofstra and Villanova, is the head coach at Boston University . Billy Lange, a two-time member of the Villanova staff (2001-04 and 2011- 13), was named the head coach at Saint Joseph’s University in the spring of 2019 . The National Basketball Association also has a strong Villanova influence . Another former VU staffer, Connor Johnson, is also a part of the 76ers organization, having been elevated to the position of head coach with the team’s G League outfit, the Delaware Blue Coats . Matt Massimino, who spent the past two seasons on the Villanova staff as an assistant coach is now with the Phoenix Suns, where he serves as a Pernsonnel Evaluator . KYLE NEPTUNE FORDHAM UNIVERSITY JOE JONES BOSTON UNIVERSITY Jay Wright with Billy Lange prior to the 2019 meeting between Villanova and Saint Joseph’s BAKER DUNLEAVY QUINNIPIAC ASHLEY HOWARD LA SALLE22 n COACHING STAFF 2021-22 VILLANOVA BASKETBALL 2 0 2 1 - 2 2 GEORGE HALCOVAGE n ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH G eorge Halcovage, who first joined the Wildcats as a graduate assistant coach in 2008 and has been a part of three NCAA Final Fours during his tenure as a member of the basketball staff, was elevated to the position of Associate Head Coach in June 2021 . He previously served in the positions of Video Coordinator, Director of Basketball Operations and, since 2017, Assistant Coach . “George is part of a great Villanova family and has been an important part of this program for 13 years,” said Wright . “In that time, he’s held every position we have, which gives him a deep understanding of all aspects of our program . George is a talented young coach who is ready to take over the leadership of our staff as Associate Head Coach .” Halcovage was a part of the Villanova staff that guided the Wildcats to the 2009 NCAA Final Four in Detroit . In 2010, he moved over to become the Video Coordinator/Graduate Intern . He later was elevated to the role of Director of Basketball Operations and served in that capacity during the Wildcats’ run to the 2016 NCAA national championship . In 2017-18, he was an assistant coach as the Wildcats posted a 36-4 record on their way to the NCAA National Championship . Halcovage attended Nativity BVM High School and went on to play basketball at Babson College . In 2012 Halcovage earned his Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from Villanova University . He married Lizzy Sanford in August 2021 and the couple makes its home in Conshohocken, Pa . DATE OF BIRTH January 13, 1986 HOMETOWN Pottsville, Pa . EDUCATION B.A., Babson College (2008) M.B.A., Villanova School of Business (2012) EXPERIENCE Graduate Manager, Villanova University (2008-10) Video Coordinator, Villanova University (2010-14) Director, Basketball Operations, Villanova University (2014-17) Assistant Coach, Villanova University (2017-2021) Associate Head Coach, Villanova University (2021-present) GEORGE HALCOVAGE IN DEPTH George and Lizzy Halcovage2021-22 VILLANOVA BASKETBALL COACHING STAFF n 23 2 0 2 1 - 2 2 ASSISTANT COACH n MIKE NARDI M ike Nardi, a four-year starter at guard for the Wildcats from 2003-07, was elevated to the position of Assistant Coach in the spring of 2018 following the departure of Ashley Howard to accept the head coaching position at La Salle University . Since joining the basketball staff at the start of the 2015-16 season, Nardi has been a part of two NCAA national championships . Previously, the New Jersey native served as Director of Student-Athlete Development (2015-16), Video Coordinator (2016-17) . and Director of Basketball Operations (2017-18) . “It’s great to have a player of Mike’s caliber working his way up on our staff,” said Villanova head coach Jay Wright . “He is a talented coach with a bright future in our business .” Nardi originally came to Villanova after an outstanding career at St . Patrick’s High School in New Jersey . The 6-2 native of Linden, N .J ., was tabbed New Jersey High School Player of the Year by the Newark Star Ledger . As a Wildcat, Nardi was named to the 2004 BIG EAST All-Rookie Team after starting all 35 games as a freshman . He would remain an integral part of some of Villanova’s most successful teams in the mid-2000’s, helping VU reach the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 in 2005 and the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight in 2006 . As a senior he helped mentor freshman Scottie Reynolds while helping lead the Wildcats back to the NCAA Tournament and he was named Honorable Mention All-BIG EAST . Nardi scored 1,306 points in his Villanova career . His 423 career assists place him in 12th place in school history .He was a 2019 inductee into the Philadelphia Big Five Hall of Fame . Following graduation in 2007 Nardi played professionally for nine seasons in Italy . In August 2018 Nardi was married to the former Lauren Christiana in a ceremony at the St . Thomas of Villanova Chapel . Theyare the parents of two children, Lucia (born 2019) and Done (born 2021) . DATE OF BIRTH January 30, 1985 HOMETOWN Linden, N .J . EDUCATION B.A., Villanova University (2007) EXPERIENCE Director, S.A. Development Villanova University (2015-16) Video Coordinator, Villanova University (2016-17) Director, Basketball Operations, Villanova University (2017-18) Assistant Coach, Villanova University (2018-present) MIKE NARDI IN DEPTH24 n COACHING STAFF 2021-22 VILLANOVA BASKETBALL 2 0 2 1 - 2 2 DWAYNE ANDERSON n ASSISTANT COACH D wayne Anderson II, a 2009 Villanova graduate who served as a captain on the unit that brought the Wildcats to the NCAA Final Four in Detroit, was elevated to the position of Assistant Coach in June 2021 after serving three seasons as the Wildcats’ Director of Basketball Operations . Anderson began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Penn State University from 2013-18 . “Dwayne brings high-level assistant coaching experience with him from his time at Penn State, where he did an outstanding job for Pat Chambers,” stated Villanova Head Coach Jay Wright . “During the past three seasons, he took the Director of Operations position to a new level . Adding on-court coaching and recruiting to Dwayne’s duties will make him even more valuable to our program . We are so fortunate to have a talented leader like Dwayne for our players to learn from .” A Silver Spring, Md ., native, Anderson first came to Vil- lanova by way of St . Thomas More (Conn .) in 2005 . As a freshman, he was part of an NCAA Tournament Elite Eight team . In 2007-08, the 6-6 guard/forward earned a starting role for a unit that advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 . One year later, he helped lead the Wildcats to a 78-76 victory over Pittsburgh in the NCAA East Regional Final and the school’s first Final Four appearance in 24 years . He aver- aged 9 .0 points and 6 .2 rebounds per game as a senior cap- tain in ‘08-09 . In his four seasons, Anderson played on teams that posted a 102-37 overall record ( .734) that included a 9-4 mark in the NCAA Tournament ( .692) . At the time of its departure, the class of 2009 (Anderson, Shane Clark, Dante Cunningham and Frank Tchuisi) was the winningest in program history . Following a professional career in Germany, Anderson entered the coaching profession, joining the staff of former VU Associate Head Coach Patrick Chambers . He spent five seasons in State College as an assistant coach, highlighted by the team’s 2018 run to the National Invitation Tourna- ment title . Anderson is married to the former Lindsay Davis, who excelled as a four year member of the VU Swimming and Diving team from 2005-09, specializing in the 1 and 3 meter diving events . The couple has two sons, Dash and Nova . DATE OF BIRTH June 26, 1986 HOMETOWN Silver Spring, Md . EDUCATION B.A., Villanova University (2009) EXPERIENCE Assistant Coach, Penn State (2013-18) Director, Basketball Operations, Villanova University (2018-21) Assistant Coach, Villanova University (2021-present) DWAYNE ANDERSON IN DEPTH2021-22 VILLANOVA BASKETBALL COACHING STAFF n 25 2 0 2 1 - 2 2 DIRECTOR OF BASKETBALL OPERATIONS n JOEY FLANNERY J oey Flannery was named as Villanova’s Director of Basketball Operations in June 2021 after spending three seasons with the Wildcats, first as a graduate manager and in 2020-21 as the program’s Assistant Director of Basketball Operations . “Joey is another gifted young coach who has contributed in a variety of quiet ways in his three years at Villanova,” said Wright . “Last year, Joey had the chance to serve as Dwayne’s understudy and that experience will serve him well in this new position . We are excited to watch Joey continue to grow as a young coach with an outstanding work ethic and commitment to our core values .” Flannery was a two-time NABC Division III Player of the Year at Babson College from 2013-17 . After a year of professional basketball, this native of Action, Mass ., came to Villanova as a graduate assistant coach . Last season, he aided Anderson with the day-to-day program operations . DATE OF BIRTH Nov . 23, 1993 HOMETOWN Acton, Mass . EDUCATION B.A., Babson (2017); MBA, Villanova (2020) EXPERIENCE Director, Basketball Operations, Villanova University (2021-present) JOEY FLANNERY IN DEPTH26 n COACHING STAFF 2021-22 VILLANOVA BASKETBALL 2 0 2 1 - 2 2 SUPPORT STAFF DIRECTOR OF PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION ARLESHIA DAVIDSON Arleshia Davidson has served in a variety of administrative roles since coming to Villanova in 2009 and in the summer of 2017 was elevated to the newly created post of Director of Program Administration . In this capacity she assists Coach Wright with an assortment of tasks, including oversight of day-to-day operations of Villanova Basketball, academic support, event planning and management and ticketing . Previously Davidson had served as Special Assistant to the Head Coach . Davidson came to Villanova in 2009 with a strong academic background . From 2001-09, she was a Mathematics teacher at Bloomfield Vocational Technical Schools in New Jersey . She also served as the center director and teaching specialist at the U .S . Dream Academy in East Orange, N .J . Davidson earned a mathematics degree from Florida State University, where she also played on the basketball team . She was a Dean’s List student as an undergraduate . She makes her home in Eagleville, Pa . TEAM CHAPLAIN / SENIOR ASSOC. ATHLETICS DIRECTOR REV. ROB HAGAN, O.S.A. In his 18th season at Villanova, Rev . Rob Hagan, O .S .A . serves as the Team Chaplain for the Men’s Basketball and Football teams at Villanova . In July 2018, he was elevated to the post of Senior Associate Athletics Director . As part of his role in the Athletic Department, he oversees the areas of Sports Medicine and Strength and Conditioning, and is also the administrator for the golf and tennis programs . Father Rob came to Villanova in 2003 as the Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance, and has been part of the school’s athletics administrative team ever since . Hagan graduated from Villanova with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1987 . He went on to earn a J .D . from Widener University School of Law in 1990 . After receiving his law degree, Father Rob spent seven years as an attorney with Gillin and Associates, where he served as Criminal Defense Counsel, in addition to handling contract negotiations, arbitrations and mediations . He also served as assistant counsel to the Solicitor for the Delaware County Solid Waste Authority and the Delaware County Register of Wills . Hagan entered the Order of Saint Augustine in 1997 . He served as Chaplain as Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia and at the University of Maryland, College Park, and received a Masters in Theology from the Washington Theological Union in 2003 . He is a past member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, the Delaware County Bar Association and the Delaware County Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys . ASSISTANT ATHLETICS DIRECTOR / COMPLIANCE TAYLOR HESS Taylor Hess has been named Assistant Athletics Director for Compliance with oversight responsibilities of Men’s and Women’s Basketball, it was announced today . Hess comes to Villanova from the University of Arizona where he has spent the past three years, most recently serving as Assistant Athletics Director for Compliance . Prior to his stint in Tucson, Hess was a part of the Compliance staffs at the University of Kansas, Rice University and his undergraduate alma mater, Southern Methodist University . He helps fill the void crated last spring when Malcolm Grace departed Villanova to accept a Senior Associate Athletic Director’s post at George Mason University . “We’re so excited to welcome Taylor to Villanova,” stated Director of Athletics Mark Jackson . “This position was created in 2017 as we looked to further enhance our commitment to NCAA Rules Compliance in our flagship sports of men’s and women’s basketball . “Taylor has established himself as a rising star in this field and we feel fortunate to bring him to Villanova . With so many changes to the legislative landscape at hand, including the NIL initiative, we feel blessed to be able to add a skilled professional of Taylor’s caliber to our Compliance staff led by Katie LeGrand .”2021-22 VILLANOVA BASKETBALL COACHING STAFF n 27 2 0 2 1 - 2 2 SUPPORT STAFF HEAD ATHLETIC TRAINER DAN ERICKSON On Sept . 1, 2020 Dan Erickson be- gan serving as the Head Athletic Train- er for the Villanova Men’s Basketball program, replacing Jeff Pierce, who held that position from 1988-2020 . Erickson (MS/ATC/CSCS) comes to the Wildcats after serving in a similar capacity for the Delaware Blue Coats of the G League . Prior to that, he spent four years (2014-18) as part of the Orlando Magic staff . In 2014-15 he was an Athletic Trainer Associate before being elevated to the role of Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach . Erickson holds a Bachelor of Science and a master’s de- gree in athletic training from East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania . TEAM PHYSICIAN DR. MICHAEL DUNCAN Former Villanova baseball player Dr . Michael Duncan, M .D ., joined the Uni- versity in 2012 and serves as the team physician for the Villanova athletic de- partment . Dr . Duncan graduated Summa Cum Laude from Villanova, where he ma- jored in biology and minored in busi- ness while also playing baseball for the Wildcats . After earning his medical de- gree from Georgetown University School of Medicine, he completed his residency at the Bryn Mawr Family Practice Residency Program at Bryn Mawr Hospital . Duncan completed his primary care sports medicine fel- lowship through the Drexel University Sports Medicine fel- lowship program associated with Hahnemann University Hospital . While at Drexel, he served as an assistant team physician for two Division I universities, one Division II uni- versity and two Philadelphia based high schools . Dr . Duncan is an active member of the American Medi- cal Society for Sports Medicine, American College of Sports Medicine, American Academy of Family Physicians and Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians . STRENGTH COACH JOHN SHACKLETON John Shackleton joined the basket- ball program in August 2012 and has played a pivotal role as the Wildcats’ Strength Coach since that point . He also plays a key role in developing the team’s nutritional plan . Shackleton first came to Villanova in 2010 when he served as an assis- tant strength coach for the Wildcats football program . In that role he as- sisted the head strength coach in all aspects of the physi- cal preparation as the 2009 NCAA FCS champion Wildcats prepared for a 2010 season that would see them advance to the FCS semifinals . Following his stint on the Main Line, Shackleton served one year as an assistant strength and conditioning coach at the University of Pittsburgh . He worked primarily with the track and field and swimming programs . In 2011, Shackleton was named assistant strength and conditioning coach at Princeton University where he worked with the men’s soccer, women’s volleyball, men’s heavy weight crew and women’s water polo units as well as the Tiger men’s basketball and football programs . Shackleton earned a BS Magna Cum Laude Kinesiology degree from Temple University in 2008 and an MS Exercise Science diploma in 2010 from George Washington Univer- sity . He makes his home in Newtown, Pa ., with his wife Beth and their son John, born in 2013 . TEAM ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON DR. WILLIAM EMPER Returning to work with the Villanova Basketball program in 2019-20 is Team Orthopedic Surgeon Dr . William Emper . A Harvard University graduate, Emper completed his medical studies at Harvard and was also an All-Ivy League defensive back for the Crimson football squad . He is associated with Bryn Mawr Hospital as an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist .Next >