Halcovage takes over as top assistant to ’Nova’s Wright
Kyle Neptune’s departure to become the head coach at Fordham left Villanova coach Jay Wright with an opening on his staff.
Wright filled that void Friday and announced some other staff moves.
Longtime assistant coach George Halcovage has been promoted to associate head coach. Dwayne Anderson moves from director of basketball operations to assistant coach. Mike Nardi remains an assistant and Joey Flannery has been promoted from graduate assistant to director of basketball operations.
“George, Dwayne and Joey have all played integral roles on our staff,” Wright said in a statement. “Each one of them has earned greater responsibility within our program.”
Halcovage has been on the staff since 2008. He has served as video coordinator, director of basketball operations and assistant coach, and has been part of three Final Four teams (2009, 2016, 2018) and two national championship squads (2016, 2018).
“George is part of a great Villanova family and has been an important part of this program for 13 years,” Wright said. “In that time, he’s held every position we have, which gives him a deep understanding of all aspects of our program. George is a talented young coach who is ready to take over the leadership of our staff as associate head coach.”
Anderson, a 2009 Villanova graduate and former team captain, joined the staff as the DOBO in 2018. Nardi, a four-year starter for Wright and a 2007 grad, has been part of the staff since 2015.
Flannery was the NABC Division III Player of the Year in 2016 and 2017 at Babson College in Massachusetts, where he guided the Beavers to the national championship in 2017. Flannery joined the staff as a graduate assistant in 2018 after playing a year of professional basketball in Spain.
“Joey is another gifted young coach who has contributed in a variety of quiet ways in his three years at Villanova,” Wright said. “Last year, Joey had the chance to serve as Dwayne’s understudy and that experience will serve him well in this new position. We are excited to watch Joey continue to grow as a young coach with an outstanding work ethic and commitment to our core values.”
In other news, freshman Trey Patterson was one of 27 players invited to try out for the USA U-19 World Cup team. The tryouts are June 20-22 at Texas Christian University. The head coach of the U-19 squad is TCU’s Jamie Dixon.
The 6-8 Patterson joined the team in January after graduating from Rutgers Prep in December. The top 12 players will represent the U.S. in the World Cup in Latvia from July 3-11.