Jay Wright is one of the most successful young coaches and with Villanova's recent appearance in the Final Four, he has solidified the Wildcat basketball program as one of the nation's elite basketball programs. This article talks about how the former Rolly Mossamino assistant understands the "modern athlete". The dictator type coaching style is long gone. The coaching profession has changed to fit the modernization of athletes and is now more about creating a culture of trust, leadership and a bigger focus on team unity. Coaches must now understand that they are not bigger than the program itself, it's not about them. It's about the players. The players make the program. It's about putting those players in a position to succeed...on the court and off the court. This article shows how 'Nova and Jay Wright have built that trust and how it can pay off when coaches and players respect and trust each other.
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Jay Wright on the last two plays for Villanova against Pitt...
When Reggie Redding threw that unsuccessful long pass against Pittsburgh, some coaches would have gone berserk. Instead, on the final play, after a timeout that came between Pitt foul shots (so Pittsburgh would not be able to set its defense as it would just after a timeout), Wright gave the ball to Redding again.
"It's very easy in the huddle to tell kids what to do, very difficult to be that guy out of bounds," Wright said after the game. "Reggie did the right thing. We've got to trust him."
The safe play would not have been that long pass. It was a risk. It failed.
Wright could have played it safe on the next play. Instead, he went over what he wanted in that huddle and trusted his players. Even when one of those players forgot where to go and Redding looked like he might be in trouble, the last option came open at the last second. Then, it was Redding to Dante Cunningham to Scottie Reynolds to Ford Field.
"It's very easy in the huddle to tell kids what to do, very difficult to be that guy out of bounds," Wright said after the game. "Reggie did the right thing. We've got to trust him."
The safe play would not have been that long pass. It was a risk. It failed.
Wright could have played it safe on the next play. Instead, he went over what he wanted in that huddle and trusted his players. Even when one of those players forgot where to go and Redding looked like he might be in trouble, the last option came open at the last second. Then, it was Redding to Dante Cunningham to Scottie Reynolds to Ford Field.
"We always tell them in those end of game situations, we have to trust your decisions," Wright said Saturday. "And that was the point I made to the team. If that [long pass] would have cost us the game, we would have applauded Reggie for the guts to make the play."
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A couple of great quotes came out of the article...
"Coaches with good ideas and good players can win games. Risk-takers win championships."
"Coaches with good ideas and good players can win games. Risk-takers win championships."
The modern big-time college basketball coach is part CEO, tactician and big brother. It is the coach who can excel at all three that has a chance to win big.
"If it's not broken, break it," - Rick Pitino, Louisville
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