After parting ways with Kyle Neptune, Villanova has the task at finding a new head coach to guide the program back to success.

“A national search for the next leader of Villanova men’s basketball will begin immediately, and we look forward to sharing more information when an appointment is finalized. Until then, Mike Nardi ‘07 VSB, will serve as the interim head coach,” University President Rev. Peter M. Donohue, O.S.A., Ph.D. said in a statement released on March 15.

Villanova has the opportunity with this new coaching hire to revitalize a program that once was a constant contender in college basketball. 

Before Neptune took over the program in 2022, former coach Jay Wright created the brand that Villanova basketball is still known for to this day. The program still has the identity Wright left behind despite Neptune’s struggles on the court.

That is what makes the head coaching job at Villanova desirable. The program has the money to combat the new world of college basketball with Name, Image and Likeness (NIL).

This coaching decision has drastic implications on the future of Villanova basketball and it is one that Father Peter and Vice President and Director of Athletics Eric Roedl will not take lightly.

Who exactly is a realistic suitor to take over the Villanova head men’s basketball coaching job?

Below is a list of four possible candidates Villanova could realistically pursue.

Chris Collins

Villanova needs someone with a winning resume. The best hire for the program at this time is someone with experience. This is not a time to let someone get their head start in coaching college basketball.

Collins is the current head coach at Northwestern and has posted a 194-190 record there. The team missed out on the NCAA Tournament this season. However, it made it the last two consecutive seasons.

The Wildcats finished with a 17-16 this season under the direction of Collins.

While Collins has only led Northwestern to the NCAA Tournament three times in his twelve seasons at the helm, the team is in the Big 10 conference. If he possesses the ability to handle the coaching pressures of college basketball, it would be much easier to win in the Big East conference, compared to the Big 10.

Collins would also benefit from better NIL funding if he were to end up on the Main Line.

Richard Pitino

Pitino is the current head coach at New Mexico. By now, this last name is well known in the Big East because Richard’s father is St. John’s head coach, and Big East Coach of the Year, Rick Pitino.

Pitino was named the Mountain West Coach of the Year this season after guiding the Lobos to a 25-6 regular season record. It was enough to make New Mexico regular season champions of the Mountain West.

The Lobos lost in their conference tournament semifinals, 72-69, to Boise State.

Throughout his 13-year head coaching career, Pitino has a 246-185 record (.571) across three programs. With the 42-year-old Pitino, New Mexico made its second straight NCAA Tournament.

Villanova could pick up a young head coach with documented success.

Porter Moser

A head coach with 21 years of experience is what Villanova needs to get back on track. With two decades worth of leading four different college basketball teams comes a 367-300 (.550) record.

Moser is the head men’s basketball coach at Oklahoma. In their first season in the SEC this year, the Sooners made the NCAA Tournament this season for the first time since the 2020-2021 season.

During Porter’s time at Loyola Chicago, he led the team to a Final Four appearance in 2018. It was just the fourth 11-seed to make a Final Four appearance in college basketball history. 

Loyola Chicago also reached its highest rated KenPom metric ranking in 2021 with Porter in charge. The Ramblers finished ninth overall on KenPom’s advanced metric system while ranking number one in defense efficiency.

He has displayed he can turn around programs and one could argue he turned around a program that was struggling far more than Villanova.

Malik Allen

Depending on how deep Villanova wants to search, it could take its search to South Beach.

Allen is a former Wildcat, which could be the wrong direction to go in if you want to stay away from hiring within the “family.”

Allen’s son, Dante, is Villanova’s lone commit for this upcoming freshman class. It is possible Allen would not mind having the father-son duo pair up to play possibly four years of Villanova basketball.

Traditionally, the University likes familiar hires. It means that they understand the Augustinian values, the way Villanova presents itself and it is one less thing the school must teach a new coach.

He currently serves as an assistant in the NBA for the Miami Heat.

Allen probably will not be at the top of the list, but with a decision that could decide the fate of the program, no one can be crossed off the list.