What Does the Former Villanova Coach Bring to the Hornets Coaching Staff?

Yesterday, it was announced that former Villanova head coach Kyle Neptune is joining the Hornets coaching staff as an assistant coach. He will replace the spot that was vacated by the Hornets Summer League winning head coach, Chris Jent, who left to be Mike Brown’s top assistant with the New York Knicks. This was a curious choice made by the Hornets, as many did not know that Neptune was even a candidate for the job. However, the 40-year-old coach does bring a decade of experience from working at the college level.

Neptune was once considered a rising star in the coaching industry due to his work as a video coordinator at Villanova in 2008, before moving on to becoming an assistant coach at Niagara in 2010 and then returning to Villanova to be an assistant coach for eight years. He then held that position for eight years before becoming the head coach at Fordham University, where he established that he could become a top head coach in college basketball. Neptune then got his first head coaching opportunity at Villanova after Jay Wright stepped down at the end of the 2022 season. The former coach at Fordham, however, did not live up to the expectations that the Wildcat faithful were expecting. He finished his three-year tenure at Villanova with a 54-47 record with zero NCAA Tournament appearances. However, Kyle Neptune did help in the development of Eric Dixon, who is trying to impress the Lakers right now. By joining the Hornets, Neptune can help with the development of the younger players, such as Brandon Miller, Kon Knueppel, and LaMelo Ball. As the Hornets continue to build around young talent, bringing in Neptune reflects the path of player development that was established in Charles Lee’s first season.

It was a shocking hire when it was announced, but it could benefit the Hornets in the long run. By bringing in Neptune, the Horners get a coach with a wealth of experience coaching and developing younger players. As the Hornets continue to take the next steps in establishing their culture, the players must have the right advice and insight into what is expected of them when they put on the uniform. Coach Neptune may be new to the NBA, but this could be the perfect job for him to turn his career around and be a part of a turnaround in Charlotte.