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PHOTO: President Obama writes letter to former Villanova coach

NCAA Villanova North Carolina Final Four Basketball

Villanova head coach Jay Wright celebrates as he cuts down the net after the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball championship game against North Carolina, Monday, April 4, 2016, in Houston. Villanova won 77-74. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

AP

Rollie Massimino was on hand to see Villanova cut down the nets in April, but the former Wildcat head coach was not in Washington D.C. when the team got a chance to visit the White House and President Barack Obama.

Massimino, who coached Nova to the 1985 national title and is an absolutely beloved figure in the city of Philadelphia, was in Houston for the national title game but did not make it to Villanova’s win over Oklahoma due to health issues; he was reportedly dealing with kidney stones, a blood clot and his wife’s health as well.

President Obama, who is quite proud of the fact that he is a basketball junkie, penned a letter to the legend, which was shared by current Villanova head coach Jay Wright on Monday night: