Wright doesn't want to leave Villanova

Jay Wright knows his name probably will come up with coaching vacancies again, because it has before. But whether it's at the college or NBA level, he said he will continue to say what he always has said: Thanks, but no thanks.

"I just hope it doesn't happen," the Villanova coach reiterated yesterday before addressing his 25-8 team one last time, 3 days after the season ended with a 75-68 loss to Saint Mary's in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. "I really do. [I hope] no one contacts me and I can just coach at Villanova.

"That's what I want to do. That's really the truth. That's what I do right now."

It has been his program for nine seasons. In four of the previous five, the Wildcats got to at least the Sweet 16. In 2006, they made the Final Eight. Last year, they got to the Final Four.

That kind of thing tends to get prospective employers' attention. Wright was contacted last year when the Sixers were looking for a head coach. As the Sixers struggle through a 24-47 season, they again could be looking for a new coach. Same with the 7-63 New Jersey Nets.

"No one's contacted me," Wright insisted. "I'm happy about that. I love my job. Unless something changed here, I don't think I want to go anywhere.

"I really don't want to have to think about it, but I understand I might have to. Right now I can tell you I don't want to leave."

Wright, of course, grew up in Bucks County. It's no secret that his wife, Patty, a Villanova graduate, is also very happy here. And two of their three children are still in high school.

So . . .

"Patty's always behind me, whatever I decide, she really is," Wright said, as good husbands usually do. "That makes it easier."

As does having a really good thing going. How do you think he got to be so attractive? *