< Previous2020-21 VILLANOVA BASKETBALL Meet The Wildcats 40 n WWW.VILLANOVA.COM Joins the Wildcats after serving the pro- gram as a practice player in 2019-20. MASSAPEQUA HIGH SCHOOL Was a three-year starter at the Long Island based school … A 2018 Nassau County AA-1 All-County Selection as a senior … Tabbed the 2018 Nassau County Basketball Coaches Association Scholar Athlete of the Year … Served as a team captain as a senior and led the conference in scoring as well that season. PERSONAL Parents are Martin and Kathleen Voigt … Martin Voigt played collegiate baseball at Old Dominion University … Born Nov. 16, 1999 in Bethpage, N.Y. … Has a sister Marianne Voigt (18) … Majoring in Biology at Villanova … Played AAU basketball for the Long Island Lightning. HOMETOWN: Massapequa, N.Y. HIGH SCHOOL: Massapequa HS 13 13 KEVIN VOIGTVOIGT 6-5 | 193 | GUARD | JUNIOR Contractors Building for the Future of VillanovaContractors Building for the Future of Villanova Emergency Systems Emergency Systems Service CompanyService Company Joseph M. Hafich President of Operations joe.hafich@emergencysystems-inc.com 401 O’Neill Drive / Quakertown, PA 18951-4227 Phone: 215.536.4973 Fax: 215.536.6676 www.emergencysystems-inc.com YOUR PARTNER FOR MECHANICAL SERVICES INC. PLUMBING - MECHANICAL - SHEETMETAL COMPLETE MECHANICAL CONTRACTORS (856) 662-5151 • FAX: (856) 662-8822 • www.lormarmech.com GOOD LUCK THIS SEASON MAYFIELDMAYFIELD ★ SITE CONTRACTORS INC. ★ PHILADELPHIA, PAHUNTINGDON VALLEY, PA HVAC • Service • Piping • Plumbing Process • CAD/BIM 20 McDonald Blvd., Ste. 3 Aston, PA 19014-3202 24 Hour Emergency Service Office 610-447-8755 www.wcmechanical.com2020-21 VILLANOVA BASKETBALL Jay Wright • HEAD COACH 42 n WWW.VILLANOVA.COM In 19 seasons as Villanova’s William B. Finneran Endowed Head Coach, Jay Wright has guided the Wildcats to new heights, including a pair of NCAA national championships. The Bucknell University graduate (1983) is one of only three active Division I head coaches with multiple national championships to his credit. Villanova has posted 215 victories in the past seven seasons – an average of 30.7 per season. In 2019-20, the Wildcats posted a 24-7 record and share of the BIG EAST regular season champi- onship – their sixth such title in the last seven seasons – before the postseason was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2019 the Cats became the first team in league history to claim three consecutive BIG EAST Tournament titles. This was achieved despite the departure of the top four scorers from the 2018 NCAA national champion- ship team – Mikal Bridges, Donte DiVincenzo, Omari Spellman and Jalen Brunson. Those four were among seven recent Wildcats to see action during the 20 1 9 - 20 NBA sea- son (R yan Arcidiacono, Josh Hart and Eric Paschall were the others). In 2017-18, the Wildcats amassed a school record 36 vic- tories and secured Villanova’s third NCAA national cham- pionship with a 79-62 victory over Michigan on April 2, 2018. Brunson became Villanova’s first consensus National Player of the Year in the modern era, joining Paul Arizin as the only VU players to earn that distinction. In 2016, Villanova defeated North Carolina 77-74 when Kris Jenkins drained a 3-pointer at the buzz to cap a 35-5 campaign with an NCAA national title. The product of Council Rock High School owns a record of 472-182 (.720) in his 19 seasons at the helm of the Wildcats and is the program’s all-time wins leader. With 241 BIG EAST victories, he ranks third all-time among league coach- es and is 28-14 (.667) in NCAA Tournament play at Nova. His overall record as head coach – including a success- ful seven-year stint at Hofstra University from 1994-2001 – is 594-267 (.686). This is Wright’s sec- ond stint at Villanova. He served as an assistant to the late Rollie Massimino from 1987-92. In addition to the on-court success, the Wildcats have pro- duced in the class room as well. Matt Kennedy was recog- nized with the pres- tigious NCAA Elite 90 Award at the 2018 Final Four while Brunson was voted sec- ond team CoSida Academic All- American. Every Villanova player who has spent four years in the pro- gram 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 history to be selected as the league’s Coach of the Year six times.003291AF 11/20 2020-21 VILLANOVA BASKETBALL Jay Wright • HEAD COACH 44 n WWW.VILLANOVA.COM Wright is married to the former Patricia Reilly. The cou- ple has two sons, Taylor (27) and Colin (26) and a daughter Reilly (21). Patty and Jay Wright were honored with the inaugural Saint Augustine Medal in April 2017. Wright’s book “Attitude”, published in 2017, was a New York Times bestseller. JAY WRIGHT IN DEPTH 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) YEAR-BY-YEAR WITH JAY 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 25 years 594-267 JAY’S JOURNEY Overall Record 594-267 (.690) Villanova (2001-present) 472-182 (.722) Hofstra (1994-2001) 122-85 (.589) BIG EAST Regular Season 217-115 (.654) America East Regular Season 76-49 (.613) NCAA Record 28-14 (.667) 16 appearances NIT Record 4-4 (.500); four appearances Big East Tournament 21-14 (.600) • Six NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 Appearances (2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2016, 2018) • Four NCAA Tournament Elite Eights (2006, 2009, 2016, 2018) • Three NCAA Final Four (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, 2018) • 2006 NABC Coach of the Year • 2006 CBS/Chevrolet Coach of the Year • 2019-21 USA Basketball Senior Men’s Basketball Assistant Coach2020-21 VILLANOVA BASKETBALL Coaching Staff 46 n WWW.VILLANOVA.COM Kyle Neptune • ASSISTANT COACH George Halcovage • ASSISTANT COACH Kyle Neptune enters his eighth season in his current role, making him the longest tenured Villanova assistant coach. During this period of unprecedented success, the Wildcats have averaged 30.7 wins over seven seasons, capturing six BIG EAST regular season, four BIG EAST Tournament and a pair of NCAA national championships in that span. Neptune made his return to the Villanova staff when he was named an assistant coach in September 2013. He had previously served the Wildcats from 2008-10 as the administrative intern/video coordinator and was a part of the staff that helped lead VU to the 2009 NCAA Final Four in Detroit. Prior to this stint, Neptune served three seasons as an assistant coach at Niagara University (2010-13) and accompanied former Niagara head coach Joe Mihalich to Hofstra University in the months before accepting his position at Villanova. “During his time at Villanova, Kyle has demonstrated all the qualities you want to see in a young coach - commitment, passion, and the ability to communicate with young people.” stated head coach Jay Wright. “He is a well-rounded and talented young coach who we are thrilled to have with us.” A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., Neptune played four seasons of college basketball at Lehigh University where he served as a team captain in his senior year of 2006-07. The Mountain Hawks claimed the 2004 Patriot League title during Neptune’s freshman campaign. As a junior, Neptune logged 33 minutes as a Lehigh starting forward when the Mountain Hawks played Villanova in November of 2005 at the Pavilion. In his present role, Neptune assists with all elements of the program, including on-court teaching, player development, and recruiting. George Halcovage, who first joined the Wildcats as a graduate assistant coach in 2008, was elevated to the role of Assistant Coach in the summer of 2017. It marked another step in the rise of the native of Pottsville, Pa., at Villanova. “George is a longtime member of our staff who has been ready for this position for a long time,” stated Villanova head coach Jay Wright. “We are excited about him taking the next step in his career at Villanova.” As an assistant coach Halcovage assists with on-court teaching, recruiting, and player development. 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 his first season as an assistant coach, the Wildcats posted a program record 36 victories on route to a second NCAA national title in the past three seasons. In 2012 Halcovage earned his Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from Villanova University. Halcovage is a 2008 graduate of Babson College, where he played four seasons of varsity basketball as a point guard. In his final two seasons he coordinated the New England Coaches Association (NEBCA) “Coaches vs. Cancer” all-star game. KYLE NEPTUNE IN DEPTH DATE OF BIRTH January 21, 1985 HOMETOWN Philadelphia, Pa. EDUCATION Bachelor of Arts,Drexel University (2004) EXPERIENCE Assistant Coach, La Salle University (2004-08) Assistant Coach ,Drexel University (2008-12) Assistant Coach, Xavier University (2012-13) Assistant Coach, Villanova University (2013-present) GEORGE HALCOVAGE IN DEPTH DATE OF BIRTH January 13, 1986 HOMETOWN Pottsville, Pa. EDUCATION B.A., Babson College (2008) B.A., Villanova School of Business (2012) EXPERIENCE Video Coordinator, Villanova University (2010-14) Director, Basketball Operations, Villanova University (2014-17) Assistant Coach, Villanova University (2017-present) 2020-21 VILLANOVA BASKETBALL Coaching Staff 48 n WWW.VILLANOVA.COM MIKE NARDI • ASSISTANT COACH DWAYNE ANDERSON • DIR. OF BASKETBALL Ops Mike 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 sowme 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. They welcomed a daughter Lucia in 2019. Dwayne Anderson, a 2009 Villanova graduate who served as a captain on the unit that brought the Wildcats to the NCAA Final Four in Detroit, returned to his alma mater in May 2018 after serving five seasons on the coaching staff at Penn State University. He assumed the role of Director of Basketball Operations at Villanova. “We are excited to welcome Dwayne and his wife Lindsay home to Villanova,” stated Villanova head coach Jay Wright. “As a player, Dwayne’s leadership traits played a critical role on our 2009 NCAA Final Four team. Those same traits have helped make him an outstanding young coach. He will be a great role model for our players.” A Silver Spring, Md., native, Anderson first came to Villanova 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 averaged 9.0 points and 6.2 rebounds per game as a senior captain 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 Tournament 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. MIKE NARDI IN DEPTH 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) DWAYNE ANDERSON IN DEPTH 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-present)Next >