BRONX, N.Y. – Fordham University today announced that it has named Kyle Neptune to lead its men's basketball program. Neptune, 36, a native of Brooklyn, N.Y., spent the past eight seasons as an assistant coach at Villanova. During that stretch the Wildcats earned seven BIG EAST regular season championships, four BIG EAST Tournament titles, and two NCAA Tournament championships.
 
            This marked Neptune's second stint as part of the Wildcats' staff. From 2008-10, he served as a video coordinator and was part of Villanova's 2009 NCAA Final Four leadership team. This 2007 graduate of Lehigh University – where he served as a basketball team captain – then joined the staff of head coach Joe Mihalich at Niagara University. In 2013 Neptune accompanied Mihalich to Hofstra University before joining the Wildcats in the fall after the exit of Associate Head Coach Billy Lange to the Philadelphia 76ers.
 
            "Kyle is a dedicated, intelligent, creative basketball coach," stated Wildcats' head coach Jay Wright.  "Our players have benefitted greatly over the years from his teaching, passion, and commitment. He has recruited outstanding talent to our program and is respected as one of the best recruiters in the country. I will miss his expertise in game situations, his leadership and, most of all, his friendship and loyalty.
 
            "Fordham is getting a humble and talented coach and mentor. I know Kyle is excited to join the Fordham community and return to his home in New York City. Our Villanova community wishes him great success!"
 
            Three members of Villanova's 2016 NCAA national championship coaching staff now have head coaching positions of their own: Baker Dunleavy (Quinnipiac); Ashley Howard (La Salle); and Neptune. Two other former Wildcats assistants, Joe Jones (Boston University) and Lange (Saint Joseph's) also serve as current head coaches. Former VU staffer Connor Johnson is the head coach of the Delaware Blue Coats of the G League.