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How Kenny Payne’s Season Compares With Other First-Year Coaches

By Peyton Powell

LOUISVILLE, KY - JANUARY 03: Head coach Kenny Payne of the Louisville Cardinals is seen during the game against against the Syracuse Orange at KFC YUM! Center on January 3, 2023 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KY - JANUARY 03: Head coach Kenny Payne of the Louisville Cardinals is seen during the game against against the Syracuse Orange at KFC YUM! Center on January 3, 2023 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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Kyle Neptune (Villanova)

After Jay Wright’s surprise retirement in April 2022, former Villanova assistant coach Kyle Neptune left Fordham University to become the Wildcats’ new head coach. Similar to Louisville, Villanova is one of college basketball’s premier programs, and they each chose to hire a somewhat unproven head coach with significant ties to their university.

Coming off a Final Four appearance in the previous season and beginning the 2022-2023 season in the top 25, Kyle Neptune and the Villanova Wildcats have not lived up to expectations this season.

Villanova has a 15-14 overall record and is 9-9 in conference play. They have earned impressive wins over teams such as Creighton and Xavier and have held their own against quality opponents like Iowa State and Marquette. However, it is all but certain that the Wildcats will miss the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2012.

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