Kyle Neptune’s tenure as Villanova’s head coach has come to an end. After an underwhelming tenure and continued struggles in the 2024–25 season, Villanova officially fired Neptune on March 15, 2025. His final record at the school was 54–47, with no NCAA Tournament appearances. The Wildcats finished the 2024–25 season at 18–15 and missed the tournament once again.
The decision to fire Neptune came at a significant financial cost. Here’s a breakdown of his contract, salary, buyout, and incentives.
Kyle Neptune Contract and Salary
- Annual Salary: $4.4 million.
- Contract Length: Estimated 6 years, from April 2022 through April 2028.
Kyle Neptune Buyout Cost
Villanova owed Neptune a buyout based on his remaining guaranteed salary, as his contract originally ran through April 2028. At the time of his firing in March 2025, he had three full seasons left on his deal, totaling $13.2 million in remaining salary.
- Most coaching contracts include a guaranteed percentage of the remaining salary in case of termination, typically ranging from 75% to 100%.
- If Villanova paid 75% of the remaining contract, Neptune’s buyout would have been approximately $9.9 million.
- If Villanova paid 100% of the remaining contract, the buyout would have been $13.2 million.
Regardless of the exact figure, it represented a significant financial commitment for Villanova to move on from Neptune.
Kyle Neptune Incentives
Incentives likely tied to Neptune’s contract included:
- NCAA Tournament Bonuses:
- $50,000 for making the tournament
- $75,000 for the Round of 32
- Up to $300,000 for winning the championship.
- Big East Performance:
- $50,000 for winning the regular season title
- $50,000 for winning the conference tournament.
- Awards:
- $100,000 for National Coach of the Year recognition.
Why Villanova Fired Kyle Neptune
Results:
- Final record: 54–47.
- Missed the NCAA Tournament in all three seasons.
- Finished the 2024–25 season at 18–15, failing to meet expectations.
Fan Expectations:
- Villanova fans expect national relevance, deep tournament runs, and Big East dominance. Neptune’s tenure fell short.
- Compared to Jay Wright’s era, Villanova’s performance declined significantly.
While the buyout was costly, Villanova saw the move as necessary to restore the program’s elite status.
