Kyle Neptune is joining the Charlotte Hornets as an assistant coach for the 2025-26 season, rounding out the staff under head coach Charles Lee.
Neptune’s coaching journey began in 2010 after a brief professional playing career in Lithuania and Puerto Rico. He spent eight seasons on the Villanova bench as an assistant before taking the head coaching job at Fordham University. He later returned to Villanova, serving the last three seasons as the Wildcats’ head coach.
His tenure at Villanova ended after the recent season, when the program decided to part ways with him following a 31-27 overall record. During that three-year spell, Villanova did not advance beyond the second round of the Big East Tournament or reach the NCAA Tournament.
The Hornets’ hire signals a push to enrich the coaching staff with someone who has deep experience developing players and building programs, both in college and in the recruiting pipelines that feed it. Neptune’s background in Villanova’s system—a program known for perimeter spacing, ball movement, and disciplined execution—could translate to a focus on player development and basketball IQ on Charlotte’s roster.
Potential impact areas include working with young guards and wings to improve decision-making, consistency, and on-court fit within Charles Lee’s system. Neptune’s experience as a head coach at Fordham also adds perspective on season-long player development, gap analysis, and game-to-game adjustments, which can be valuable as the Hornets pursue steady growth with their young core.
Outlook: Charlotte is clearly prioritizing long-term growth by adding a coach who has both the precision of a top-tier college program and firsthand head coaching experience. If Neptune can translate Villanova-style development and offensive spacing to the NBA, he could become a key piece in elevating the Hornets’ upside over the next several seasons.
Additional notes for readers and editors:
– Follow-up coverage could explore Neptune’s coaching philosophy, how he plans to implement his approach within Charles Lee’s system, and which players on the Hornets’ roster stand to benefit the most.
– A profile on Neptune’s program-building approach and his methods for player development would complement this hiring and provide deeper context for fans.
Summary for readers: The Hornets have added Kyle Neptune to their coaching ranks, a move aimed at strengthening player development and offensive maturity as the team builds toward sustained improvement with a young roster.