Jay Wright praises Penn State University for hiring Mike Rhoades

On Wednesday, exactly one week after Micah Shrewsberry announced that he was leaving State College in favor of taking the head coaching position at Notre Dame, the Nittany Lions hired their new head basketball coach. Mike Rhoades — who boasts an impressive resume from his six seasons with VCU and more — will now be the head coach of the Penn State basketball team. After the hire was made official, many big names in the sport of college basketball gave praise to PSU for the hire, including noted basketball legend Jay Wright.

Jay Wright praised Penn State University for hiring Mike Rhoades

Jay Wright — who coached college basketball for nearly three decades, making 18 tournament appearances, winning 10 conference titles, and claiming two national championships — is regarded as one of the greatest college basketball coaches in the game’s history. Wright saw nearly a decade of action with Hofstra before taking over at Villanova, where he would eventually finish his career over 20 years later.

On Wednesday night, after Penn State basketball made the Mike Rhoades hire official, Jay Wright praised Penn State University for making a tremendous hire. Wright was one of many notable names to do so.

“I have known Mike Rhoades since he was a player at Lebanon Valley College,” Jay Wright said of the new Penn State basketball coach. “He is a Pennsylvania guy and is one of the hardest working, innovative coaches in our business. I have great respect for Mike and know that he will be extremely successful at Penn State.”

Penn State released quotes on Mike Rhoades from Jay Wright, Shaka Smart & more pic.twitter.com/8wexMjU0MT

— Daniel Gallen (@danieljtgallen) March 29, 2023

As most already know, Mike Rhoades is a Pennsylvania native, even playing college ball in the central PA area. For Rhoades, his new job in State College is more than a career move, it’s a homecoming, and even the likes of Jay Wright believe that he will be successful. During his time with the VCU Rams, Rhoades compiled a 129-61 overall record with two A-10 titles and three tournament appearances in six seasons at the helm in Richmond.

Thank you for reading Basic Blues Nation. Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news and insights on your favorite Penn State athletics.

For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email our Managing Editor at [email protected]. It’s due to your support that we can become one of the market’s fastest-growing Penn State sports outlets!