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As reported earlier, Raphael Chillious has left the Villanova program as an assistant coach. The University released the following press-release announcing the move. Chillious has already been removed from the team roster's list of coaching staff on Villanova.com.
VILLANOVA, Pa. – Villanova assistant coach Raphael Chillious has elected to return to the University of Washington to rejoin the staff of head coach Lorenzo Romar, it was announced today.
Chillious, a graduate of Lafayette College, came to the Wildcats in August of 2012 after serving three seasons with the Huskies from 2009-12.
"Raphael did an outstanding job with our team last year," stated Villanova head coach Jay Wright. "He and his wife Charlene and daughter Zaya quickly became a part of our Villanova family. Raphael has an opportunity to return to Washington in a more integral position on that staff. The Nova Nation will miss ‘Chill’ and his family."
Chillious, a native of Olney, Md., was part of the staff that helped the Wildcats return to the NCAA Tournament in 2012-13 with a 20-14 record that included victories over three teams ranked in the Associated Press Top 5 – Louisville, Syracuse and Georgetown.
#NovaNation will miss @coachchills as he and his family head back to Washington - did an outstanding job for our team last season!
— Jay Wright (@VUCoachJWright) May 16, 2013
I want to thank Coach Jay Wright, the staff, players & #NovaNation for a great 8 months! Wish the program nothing but the best!!
— Raphael Chillious (@CoachChills) May 17, 2013
Based on the "internal applicants" posting by Villanova to fill his position, it is expected that one of the current basketball staff members will take on the Assistant Coach role. Either Jason Donnelly will resume those duties or one of George Halcovage, Curtis Sumpter or Arleshia Davidson would be promoted. Davidson would be a big longshot in that grouping as Director of Basketball Operations, and as a female, however former assistant Keith Urgo was hired to the assistant rank from the same position.
Most likely may be for Jason Donnelly to regain assistant coaching responsibilities, if the Wildcats keep their "search" in-house.