NEW YORK—When you’re hot, you’re hot.
Jay Wright– who has won two national championships in the past four years– has had his share of big offers since he has been at Villanova. But according to a story in the Los Angeles Times, UCLA—which was in desperate name of a brand name coach this spring, offered to double Wright’s salary if he left the Main Line to move to Westwood.
Wright’s salary at Villanova was $3,878, 768 last season. The Bruins reportedly offered him a multi-year deal worth $7.75 million, which would have made him the second highest paid coach in college basketball, behind John Calipari of Kentucky.
“We would have loved for Jay wright to walk out on the floor, but even when he offered to double his salary, he still wasn’t coming,’’ UCLA senior associate AD Josh Rebholz said in a text message to the donors. “Nothing we can do about that. But I’m proud of our effort. We didn’t assume anything took our shots and I believe will end up with a solid coach who will embrace UCLA and build a program we all can be proud of and root for.’’
Finding a coach to replace Steve Alford wasn’t as easy as it used to be. The Bruins contacted Calipari, Wright and Tony Bennett of Virginia, then offered the job to Rick Barnes of Tennessee and Jamie Dixson of TCU before finally settling on Mick Cronin of Cincinnati.
As for Wright, home really is where the heart is. fff
