Jay Wright Didn't Talk to Lakers About HC Job, Says He's Not Interested in Coaching

When Jay Wright said he was retiring from coaching, he meant it.

The former Villanova coach said he did not speak with the Los Angeles Lakers regarding their head-coaching position and has no plans on returning to the bench.

"No. It's humbling that someone would even mention you or think about you. I've been around so long, all the guys who are making the decisions, I know those guys. I wasn't talking to [Lakers general manager] Rob Pelinka at the end of that. There were no conversations," Wright told Zach Braziller of the New York Post.

"You know you can't stop it, so you have to sit back and say it's part of the business. When you're not coaching anymore, you're still kind of flattered that somebody would think of you."

Wright, 62, retired from coaching after the 2022 season. He compiled a 642-282 record at Villanova and Hofstra during his coaching career and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021.

Since leaving coaching, Wright has worked with CBS as a college basketball analyst. While his name has come up in numerous head-coaching searches since his retirement, he's been steadfast in saying Villanova was his final coaching job.

It's unclear if the Lakers ever seriously pursued Wright, though his name was bandied about as a potential candidate. The Lakers hired former NBA guard JJ Redick after making a strong push for UConn's Dan Hurley. Redick has no coaching experience beyond the youth level but impressed Lakers brass with his acumen in interviews and as a media analyst.

If Wright ever decided to return to coaching, he would have his pick of jobs both in college and at the NBA level. However, it appears he's enjoying being away from the grind of coaching and working in the booth.