Saturday Villanova men's basketball coach Jay Wright notched his 500th career victory.
At 55 years old, Wright became just 63rd coach with that many wins at the Division I level.
Coupled with his team's top seed in the NCAA's mock of seeding one month before Selection Sunday and Wright's new book Attitude about last year's title run, he is currently at the top of his profession.
But it was not always that way.
He compiled a 122-85 record at Hofstra. In his first three seasons there his record was just 31-51 and he did not having a winning record until year four. But a patient administration gave him time.
Similarly after coming to Villanova in 2001, Wright started slowly in his first three years with the Wildcats. His record after three years was a middling 52-46 with no NCAA Tournament appearances.
We all know how the story played out from there. By 2006 Wright was National Coach of the Year and the 'Cats reached the Elite Eight. The team reached the Final Four in 2009. The patience had paid off.
But you may have forgotten that even after those successes, the path was not easy. In the three seasons from 2010-13 Villanova finished tied for ninth, fifteenth and seventh in the rugged Big East.
And in 2014 and 2015 the 'Cats earned high seeds, only to under perform in the tournament.
By 2016 he was again National Coach of the Year and Villanova won its first NCAA basketball title since 1985.
Perhaps none of Wright's success would have materialized without patience, which is often in short supply in the business of collegiate athletics.
