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Villanova announced that former walk-on guard Baker Dunleavy would become Jay Wright's deputy, replacing the departed Billy Lange as associate head coach. Dunleavy graduated from Villanova after the 2006 run to the Elite Eight and returned to Villanova in 2010 after a stint of working in the finance field with Merril Lynch.
"Baker was one of the leaders of our 2006 Big East championship team and he's developed into an outstanding coach," head coach Wright said in a statement. "Baker has a great understanding of what it takes to succeed at this level and an instinctive feel for this program's core values. He serves as a great example of what a successful Villanova Basketball player can become."
Dunleavy will assist Wright in on-court teaching, player development and recruiting. He joined the staff as a director of basketball operations before being promoted to the bench as an assistant coach. Coaching is in Dunleavy's blood, his father Mike Dunleavy, Sr., was the head coach for four NBA franchises.
New to the staff due to Billy Lange's departure to the Philadelphia 76ers officially, is Kyle Neptune, a Lehigh graduate who served as video coordinator for the Wildcats for two seasons, including the 2009 Final Four run. He left the Main Line to accept an assistant coaching position with Niagara University and then followed coach Joe Mihalich to Hofstra last Spring.
"Kyle is a great addition to this staff," stated Wright. "During his time at Villanova, Kyle demonstrated all the qualities you want to see in a young coach - commitment, passion, and the ability to communicate with young people. Over the past three years he learned from one of our game's accomplished teachers, Joe Mihalich, and he returns to us as a well-rounded and seasoned young coach. We're thrilled to have him back."
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