Villanova, PA (My Sportsbook) - Ed Pinckney returned to Villanova on Friday as an assistant coach on the men's basketball team. He led the team to its only national championship 18 years ago.

"The Villanova basketball family is proud of Ed and excited to have him back on campus," head coach Jay Wright said. "He is a Villanova legend and has distinguished himself in the community and in professional basketball since his graduation."

Pinckney, 40, replaces Joe Jones, who became the head coach at Columbia last month.

A first-round selection of the Phoenix Suns in 1985, Pinckney spent 12 seasons in the NBA and served as a radio and television analyst for Miami.

Before that, Pinckney capped one of the best careers in Villanova history. In a 66-64 victory over heavily favored Georgetown in the 1985 national championship game he was named the Most Outstanding Player, finishing with 16 points and six rebounds.

A four-year starter for the Wildcats, Pinckney scored 1,865 points (seventh in school history) and collected 1,107 rebounds (fourth). In that span, Villanova posted an overall record of 92-37, including an 11-3 mark in the NCAA Tournament.