End of the Bench: Wright in right position

**Over the next two weeks, Jared Trexler asks the critical questions facing area workers young and old. When is the best time to rebuild and start a new challenge? When is the perfect time to end life's work and begin retirement's chapter? There are never easy answers but those are some of the questions filtering deep in the thoughts of Rutgers' Greg Schiano, Villanova's Jay Wright and Penn State Joe's Paterno. Last week, this space detailed Schiano's ultimate career goal -- architect or caregiver? Today, From the End of the Bench looks at Wright, Villanova's head men's basketball coach with an uncertain NBA coaching position in the same city**

By Jared Trexler

The Phanatic Magazine

Jay Wright just breathes big city. From his daper physical appearance and slick attire to his coaching mannerisms of polish and precision, Wright looks and lives the part.

A Bucknell education and Sigma Chi ties lead to an aura of invincibility -- not cockiness but confidence that holds a room during a speaking engagement, a basketball court during a lesson in fundamentals.

In another life, Wright probably would make one hell of a salesman. So personable, so persuasive, so passionate he probably could sell Villanova's president a bookshelf filled with the teachings of Jehovah.

In this life, the Reverend Peter M. Donahue need not worry about the church and its sanctity. The only selling Wright does is easy, walking into the homes of prized high school hoop stars and coming out with a verbal intent and four more years of winning.

He's sold Wildcat fans and the Philadelphia hoops family on his coaching ability from the moment he stepped foot on the Main Line, a bright young assistant coach at Drexel before learning under Rollie Massimino at Villanova from 1987-1992.

So the next step -- if the timing is ever right and he decides to throw his lofty record and area status into the fray -- won't require much of a job interview.

Billy King, of whoever is running the Sixers front office at the time of coaching decisions, will know exactly what he is getting.

Wright is all of the superlatives mentioned above, and most importantly, he's a bonafide winner with the self assurance to survive the NBA's ego machine.

Building back the program's winning culture, Wright molded talent and temperament during three consecutive NIT seasons before finally dancing in 2004-05. His first two tournament victories came a year later, a run cut short by a narrow loss to eventual national champion North Carolina.

His 2005-06 club -- well chronicled by The Phanatic Magazine -- featured three major pro prospects and a classic collegiate point man in a potent four-guard attack. The high-flying 'Cats finished the regular season 25-4, won a share of the Big East title and reached the Elite Eight before falling to another eventual champion in Florida.

2006-07 was about transition -- Curtis Sumpter on the mend, Mike Nardi battling injuries and an errant shooting touch and the coming out party of McDonald's All-American Scottie Reynolds, a late recruit swiped from Oklahoma that sets Wright's Wildcats up for another run next season.

Next season. It's a phrase that rolls off the tongue to the point of afterthought. But unlike diamonds, nothing in college basketball's culture lasts forever.

The decision will inevitably come for Wright, with the dilemma involving a more lucrative contract and stronger time and management demands from a pro franchise in the same city.

Mo Cheeks, while working wonders with the Sixers post-AI, seems more comfortable relating to the league's tested warriors. With the Sixers' youth movement in full force complements of Andre Iguodala, Kyle Korver and a slew of 2007 draft picks, he appears to be a square peg trying to fit into a round hole.

Wright's transition to the pros would be smoother than if he was to enter a situation built around a veteran star such as Paul Pierce or Jermaine O'Neal. The Sixers are largely a young group just out of college, schooled in fundamentals and without excessive league brainwashing of poor defense and predictable, motionless offense.

Yet, if Billy Donovan's current situation is any indication, the choice will not be clear or easy. Donovan's move was in state, and like the Sixers, Orlando is built around a young center (Dwight Howard) and guard (Jameer Nelson). The Magic had the purse strings, but college pulled the strings of Donovan's heart.

For the dynamic Wright, the decision may come down to money or management, leading and shaping his program or coaching and controlling the best players involved with his profession.

One thing is for certain. Whatever side of the city Wright chooses, he'll command the room.

With each win and star recruit, with each draft pick and roster change you just feel the two stars are set to align somewhere above the Rittenhouse Hotel, lighting up the breathtaking Philadelphia skyline.

It's a beautiful sight all too commonly seen by Wright, a big city man no matter the career path he travels.

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Jared Trexler can be reached at jtrexler@phanaticmag.com