The Fordham coaching search, which began in late January with the firing of Jeff Neubauer, appears to have reached its conclusion. Longtime Villanova assistant coach Kyle Neptune is expected to be hired as Neubauer’s replacement, according to sources.
Final details of the contract are still being worked out, but an official announcement is expected Tuesday morning. Athletic director Ed Kull had wanted someone with local connections and a strong recruiting background, and he got that in the well-liked and respected Neptune. Fordham had zeroed in on Neptune and was waiting for Villanova’s season to end, so it could meet with him face-to-face, sources said.
The 36-year-old Neptune beat out, among others, Jared Grasso of Bryant, Shaheen Holloway of Saint Peter’s, Matt Langel of Colgate and Carmen Maciariello of Siena. Neubauer was let go eight games into his sixth season. He was 61-104 with the Rams.
Neptune is a Brooklyn native who attended private school Brooklyn Friends and played at Lehigh. He has spent the last eight years at Villanova, helping Jay Wright develop the Wildcats into a national powerhouse after previously working as an assistant coach under Joe Mihalich at Niagara.
On a Zoom call, Wright declined to comment directly on Neptune and Fordham because the deal was yet to be official, but the Villanova coach spoke highly of Neptune in broad terms.
“He is ready to be a head coach,” Wright said. “So many times, young guys who are great recruiters get labeled as such, but he’s probably one of the best X’s and O’s guys I’ve had this early in his career.
“I think he’s more ready to be a head coach than most young guys, X’s and O’s-wise, and I think he’s got great character, great leadership skills, I think he’s going to be an outstanding head coach.”
Neptune’s first job as a Division I head coach will be a difficult one — one of the most challenging jobs in the country. Fordham has just one winning season in the last 14 years, and last went to the NCAA Tournament in 1992. It has chewed up and spit out more experienced coaches such as Tom Pecora, Dereck Whittenburg, Bob Hill and Nick Macarchuk. But the school, according to sources, is determined to turn the program around, and is planning to increase the program’s budget.
