Retired Hall of Fame coach Jay Wright will not be the next head coach for the New York Knicks, despite his connections to several Knicks players from his time at Villanova and his close relationship with Knicks president Leon Rose. According to multiple reports, including one from college basketball analyst Seth Davis, Wright and Rose discussed the vacancy but did not schedule a formal interview, as Wright intends to remain retired.

Seth Davis confirmed on X, formerly Twitter, that Wright reiterated his plans to stay retired. Davis stated, “Jay confirmed that he and his good friend Leon Rose discussed the position briefly but he was never offered the job or asked to interview. He simply reiterated that he plans to stay retired.” Wright, who guided Villanova to two national championships, stepped down from college coaching in 2022 with a career record of 520–197. He currently works as a college basketball analyst for CBS and TNT. Knicks player Josh Hart humorously encouraged Wright to stay retired.

The Knicks are in the market for a new head coach following the recent dismissal of Tom Thibodeau. This decision came after Thibodeau had just led the team to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 25 years, where they ultimately lost to the Indiana Pacers in six games.

During his five seasons with New York, Thibodeau made the playoffs four times and was credited with instilling a winning culture at Madison Square Garden. However, rumors suggest his departure might be linked to player dissatisfaction regarding his management of playing time, with a Yahoo Sports report indicating frustration over the extensive minutes assigned to starters.

The New York Knicks are now focused on finding a coach who can bring them an NBA title, something the franchise has not achieved in over 50 years. With Wright confirming he is not a candidate, the Knicks are reportedly considering other options, including Jason Kidd, currently coaching the Dallas Mavericks, and former Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone. The search continues as Knicks fans eagerly await news on who will lead their team next.