May 14, 2010
The Nova Notebook, by director of media relations Mike Sheridan, profiles Kyle Neptune, who on May 7 was named an assistant coach at Niagara University after serving two seasons as the video intern at Villanova.
Learning the business of coaching from the ground up, Kyle Neptune understood from the beginning of his stint that his was mostly an anonymous role. While he was on the bench for every game, most of his working hours were spent in the video room just off the lobby of the men's basketball offices in the Davis Center. There he pulled video clips, transferred them to DVD's and helped the coaching staff form its video presentations to the Wildcats.
Yet every so often, an excited fan would approach him eagerly.
Usually, it was because they had confused him for Wildcat guard Reggie Redding.
"My twin," Neptune quipped when introducing Redding at the 2009 Men's Basketball Banquet.
It's an easy mistake to make. The two are roughly the same height and Neptune is not far removed from his career as a starting swingman at Lehigh that concluded in 2007. Any number of confused photographers and media types wondered why "Redding" wasn't dressed for practice over the last two seasons.
The apprenticeship of a young coach is many things and few of them are glamorous. It is a study in long hours that tests the endurance of the most dedicated aspirants. Although he didn't envision himself on the sidelines until very recently, he was a natural from the outset.
"I didn't think much about coaching when I was playing," stated Neptune of his college days with the Mountain Hawks.
This Brooklyn, N.Y., native spent his first post-graduate year pursuing a professional basketball career in Europe and Puerto Rico. When he returned home, he began spending time with friend Khalid Green, another Brooklyn native and now a college scout with the National Basketball Association's New Jersey Nets.
"I think that's when I began falling in love with the non-playing part of basketball," stated Neptune. "Then when I got this opportunity, with Coach (Jay) Wright and this staff here, it took it to another level."
The opening at Villanova arose when former associate head coach Brett Gunning accepted a position on the coaching staff of the NBA's Houston Rockets in September 2008. Coordinator of basketball operations Jason Donnelly was elevated to an assistant coaching slot and former video coordinator Keith Urgo stepped into the operations role. That left a void for a video coordinator and Neptune landed the spot little more than a year removed from his college playing days in the Patriot League.
Like others who have filled this spot since it was created in 2004 - including Jason Crafton, Andrew Francis and Urgo - Neptune received a crash course in the technical aspects of his job. The ever-advancing pace of technology constantly kept Neptune on his toes.
"It took me a long time to feel comfortable with it," Neptune notes, "and even to this day there are things that I am still learning. The learning curve in this job will always be there because nothing ever stays the same. What was brand new a year ago might be out of date today."
The options available now are virtually limitless. Within 15-20 minutes of the conclusion of every regular and post-season game, Neptune has in his hand a DVD of the TV broadcast of the game. By the time Wright completes his media and post-game obligations, Neptune has burned a copy for him to review. Generally, the head coach will watch the tape in the early morning hours and text Neptune with specific plays he wants highlighted for the next day's film session. (When the Wildcats are away from home, Wright and the rest of the coaching staff can watch the DVD's on their laptops on the charter flight back to Philadelphia).
The video teaches in a way mere words cannot.
"As a player - and I was like this too - you always think you're right," states Neptune. "In your mind, you believe you did the right thing and that (the mistake) must have been made by someone else. But when you see it and it's right there in front of you, it's the ultimate teacher. Coaches say this all the time and it's true - the film doesn't lie.
"The proof is right there - you either did it right or did it wrong."
Neptune's debut in coaching coincided with the Wildcats' first visit to the Final Four since 1985. Careers have passed without reaching that milestone and Neptune is grateful for it.
"It's still kind of surreal to think about," says Neptune now. "The big thing I took from that is I saw what it takes to get there. It was my first year so I didn't know any different. We were working long hours, guys were focused and committed to what we were doing. Seeing what it looks like now, though, I think I have a good reference point in what it takes to reach that level.
"Coach Wright always reminded us that in his first year as a Villanova assistant they went to the Elite Eight (1988). Back then, he thought he would be there every year but he didn't get to return for a long time (2006). Hopefully, my ride will be a little different. But I definitely enjoyed every moment of that ride."
As he gets set to depart - he officially becomes a member of coach Joe Mihalich's staff at Niagara later this month - Neptune figures he will always be a part of the extended Villanova Basketball Family.
"As a coach here you're learning just as rapidly as the players," notes Neptune. "The same lessons Coach Wright teaches the players about doing the right things both as people and players filters down to all of us. I think I've grown tremendously in those areas - trying to be a better person and help others, all the things that Coach Wright talks about on a daily basis.
"Villanova has given me a blueprint for how people have success. I'm always going to be able to draw from this experience. I was telling my Mom yesterday - I almost feel like I'm a Villanova alumnus."
In a way, he is.
Just not the one people sometimes are convinced he is.
