Sept. 25, 2008
VILLANOVA, Pa. - Villanova head coach Jay Wright announced a series of promotions and one new hire today to complete his 2008-09 coaching staff. Assistant coach Patrick Chambers has been elevated to the post of associate head coach; operations manager Jason Donnelly becomes an assistant coach; administrative intern/video coordinator Keith Urgo moves up to manager of basketball operations and Kyle Neptune has been added to the staff in the video post.
Former associate head coach Brett Gunning's departure to the National Basketball Association's Houston Rockets earlier this month created the vacancy on the staff.
"I'm very excited about the makeup of our staff," stated Wright. "Each of these coaches has earned his new position through his commitment and dedication to our program."
Chambers enters his fifth season on the Villanova staff in 2008-09. The Philadelphia University graduate joined the program in the operations role in 2004. One year later, he was elevated to an assistant coaching slot. In that capacity he has been instrumental in on-court teaching, recruiting, player development and oversight of the team's academic progress. In his four seasons on staff, Villanova owns a 96-37 (.722) record and has made three appearances in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16.
"Pat has learned every facet of our program over these last four seasons and has become one of the bright young coaches in our business," states Wright. "He has an incredible passion and intensity level in everything he does. His infectious personality is a great asset to our staff."
Joining Chambers and Doug West - who was added in 2007 - as an assistant coach is Donnelly. Since 2005 Donnelly - who came to Villanova after a successful stint as an assistant coach at Bishop O'Connell High School in Arlington, Va. - has served as the operations manager for the men's basketball program. Now, he moves into to an on-court coaching role with responsibility for instruction, recruiting and attention to the academic performance of the men's basketball squad.
"Jason is a young, enthusiastic and experienced basketball coach," says Wright. "His organization and people skills made an enormous impact on our program over the last three years and those traits will serve him well as a teacher and recruiter. We look forward to watching Jason emerge as another great Villanova basketball assistant coach."
Urgo spent the 2007-08 campaign as the administrative intern/video coordinator. The 2002 Fairfield University graduate came to Villanova after serving as an assistant coach at Gonzaga High School in Washington, D.C.
"Keith Urgo was a terrific addition to our staff last year," Wright states. "We saw his creativity as our video coach and his energy is tremendous. He's a great fit to handle all of the important details that go into making our program run efficiently."
The newest addition to the staff is Kyle Neptune who will serve as the administrative intern/video coordinator. Neptune is a native of Brooklyn, N.Y. who played four seasons of varsity basketball at Lehigh University prior to his graduation in 2007. He was a part of the Mountain Hawks' 2004 Patriot League championship team that earned an invitation to the NCAA Tournament and served as a team captain as a senior.
"Kyle is a great addition to our staff," says Wright. "He is very bright and comes to us with an enthusiasm to work hard. He is an outstanding role model for our young men. As a player at Lehigh he was tenacious and committed. Those qualities will serve him well as a member of our family."
