Knicks Rumors: Jay Wright a HC Target for NY After Jeff Hornacek Firing

The New York Knicks, who fired Jeff Hornacek on Thursday morning, are reportedly interested in meeting with Villanova men's basketball head coach Jay Wright, according to Frank Isola of the New York Daily News.

Per that report, "Knick management believes Wright would be a perfect candidate for a rebuilding club."

The Knicks are also considering Mark Jackson, Doc Rivers, Jerry Stackhouse, Craig Robinson, David Blatt and David Fizdale as Hornacek's replacement, according to that report.

It isn't surprising that the Knicks, and rebuilding teams in general, are potentially interested in Wright. The Villanova head coach has led the Wildcats to two national championships in the past three years, building one of the best programs in the country since being hired at Nova in 2001. 

The Wildcats have missed the NCAA tournament just once and reached three Final Fours since the 2004-05 season. Wright has put together a powerhouse and may be reluctant to leave for that reason.

"He told me years ago that he wanted to make Villanova into the Duke of the Northeast," a person close to Wright told Isola. "It would take a lot for him to leave."

And Wright addressed the NBA talk last week, indicating that he intends to stay at the Philadelphia school. 

"It's flattering, and I get it," he said of the potential NBA interest, per Mike Kern of The Athletic. "I just love my job. I don't see a better job for me. I'm in my hometown, sitting here in a pro sports town. If you win, they treat you like kings. If you lose, it's, 'Ah, let's follow the Sixers.'"

On Tuesday, he was even more adamant that he wasn't leaving Villanova during an interview with Dana O'Neil of The Athletic:

"I'm staying. I love it here. I love what we're doing. I'm just really happy. I said when I was at Hofstra and I didn't take other jobs, I used that old Jim Valvano line, 'Don't mess with happy.' That seemed appropriate at Hofstra until this job opened. It's still really appropriate. I'm very happy here. I don't need another challenge. I like happy better than a new challenge.

"The NBA does intrigue me. That challenge is appealing, but it's not worth giving up working with these guys. The whole thing is, to take a new challenge you have to give up what you have. I don't want to give up what I have. Would I like to coach in the NBA? Yes. But I have to give this up in order to do that, and I don't see that happening."

So the Knicks and any other NBA team can come calling, but barring a major change of heart, Wright won't be making the NBA jump this offseason.