Kyle Neptune inherited a seemingly impossible job. When he was named Villanova’s head coach in 2022, he was not just inheriting a basketball program but a dynasty built by his predecessor. Following Jay Wright, whose tenure included two national championships and four Final Four appearances, was never going to be easy. However, after three underwhelming seasons, Neptune’s time has ended abruptly because in college basketball, especially at a school like Villanova, expectations don’t and shouldn’t drop just because a new coach steps in. Neptune had three seasons to prove he could maintain Villanova’s standard of excellence. However, he simply couldn’t get the job done.
For Villanova students, faculty, staff and alumni alike, basketball is not just a sport, but rather a culture that unites generations of Wildcats. Recently, Villanovans have been spoiled with success. In the past nine years, Villanova has had three Final Four appearances, two national championships, four Big East championships and six consecutive NCAA tournament appearances. This resume has accustomed Villanovans to greatness, and so when Neptune came in and did not meet that standard, fans quickly became angry.
Alumni and fans constantly voice their opinions about the program and shape expectations by doing so. Especially on social media, Villanova basketball supporters make their opinions known. And they were loud about Neptune.
Greg Greenfield is a Villanova alumnus (1996 ) but has been a fan of the program since birth. He has witnessed many different Villanova basketball eras, and while he acknowledges that this current era is “complicated” due to the new NIL landscape, he still believes that firing Neptune was the right decision at this time.
“The importance of this job requires more than what he gave,” Greenfield said. “The level he performed at wasn’t sufficient for what this role demands.”
However, Greenfield did not just blame Neptune for the demise of the program but also those who hired him. He acknowledged how hiring him was a gamble, as hiring a relatively new head coach was always going to be risky, but admits those in charge got it wrong and should be held accountable.
“They didn’t bring in a basketball god,” Greenfield said. “This wasn’t a lateral move like Jay Wright to Rick Pitino. There was a decent chance this was going to fail.”
Despite being relatively new to coaching, though, Neptune did not inherit a broken program. Unlike many head coaches who take over struggling programs, Neptune stepped into success. Villanova wasn’t a rebuilding job, as the team had made a Final Four appearance just months before Neptune took over the program and was returning some veteran players.
The contrast between coaches was especially felt by seniors and recent graduates, who experienced the high of the 2022 Final Four appearance under Jay Wright, only for it to be followed by three disappointing seasons under Neptune’s leadership.
Colin Beazley is a 2024 Villanova graduate who experienced the last of the Wright and the beginning of the Neptune eras. He attended and covered Villanova’s 2022 Final Four appearance against Kansas while then going on to cover countless games under Neptune’s leadership.
“When the team made the Final Four in 2022, basketball was one of the best parts of being at Villanova,” Beazley said. “And when Kyle came in, the culture within the program stayed the same, players still preached ‘attitude,’ wore the same wristbands and upheld Jay Wright’s values, but the way the university viewed the team changed. Results shifted, and the team’s role in campus life changed.
Beazley describes how for many current students, Villanova’s greatness is just a story they’ve heard, rather than something they have actually experienced. He goes on to describe the effects this shift could have, potentially on future Villanovans.
“I’m from California and had no East Coast ties,” Beazley said. “Villanova basketball was the only reason I even knew about the school. If I were in high school a few years later, I don’t think I would have known about Villanova the same way.”
While a lack of NCAA tournament appearances is a sour way to end one’s time at Villanova, current juniors, sophomores and freshmen have never even experienced Villanova in the “Big Dance.” Many students who chose Villanova were under the impression that they were joining a premier “basketball school,” a place where March Madness was a given. To truly be considered a “basketball school,” making the NCAA Tournament at least once during a student’s time here should be the standard. However, Neptune failed to deliver that experience, and releasing him was the only fair decision to try and find a coach who could restore the full Villanova experience for both students and fans.
Gabby Radford, a sophomore at Villanova, said that basketball was not a defining factor in her choice to attend Villanova. However, she was excited about the basketball culture and was looking forward to having a competitive team for which to cheer.
“It’s disappointing that during my time here so far, we have never really gotten to experience that same level of success,” Radford said. “I’m hoping now with a new coach we will be more competitive during my next two years here.”
Ultimately, men’s basketball is huge at Villanova and a defining part of the identity of the University. Whether one is a current student, recent graduate or longtime alum, those with ties to Villanova crave success from the basketball team.
Villanova is making the right decision by moving on from Neptune after three seasons and looking for a fresh start. However, Villanova is now tasked with finding a coach who will bring the University back to its former glory. This decision will be a defining one.
