Just a follow up on an NAIA rumor that I posted last week (NAIA DIRT: Graceland (IA) Hires Wright as New Head Coach). It has now been made official – Chris Wright is the new head coach at Graceland (IA). Here’s the press release from the school:
“We are delighted to have secured Coach Wright to be our next head coach,” said Worlund. “He has not only a great understanding of the NAIA but has also had success at the NAIA level.”
Chris comes to Graceland with an abundance of coaching experience. He spent this past season as assistant coach at Arkansas Tech University. During his one season in Russellville, Wright helped the Wonder Boys to an 18 win season, a Great American Conference Tournament championship and a trip to the NCAA Division II National tournament.
Preceding Arkansas Tech, Wright spent four seasons as the head coach at Fresno Pacific University. He posted an overall record of 67-52 and led the team to two 20 win seasons as the head coach at FPU. In the Sunbirds first year of NCAA Division II competition Wright led Fresno Pacific to a second-place finish in the 14-team Pacific West Conference.
Prior to becoming the head coach at Fresno Pacific, Wright spent four seasons as the top assistant and recruiting coordinator at FPU before being promoted to Associate Head Coach in 2009.
Wright got his big break in 2005 landing an assistant coaching job at Texas State University under Head Coach and former NBA player Dennis Nutt.
Wright is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Learning and Development. He also holds a Master of Arts in Kinesiology from Fresno Pacific.
“I’m extremely thankful and humbled to be the next head men’s basketball coach at Graceland University,” said Coach Wright. “This is a truly special place that I am proud to be a part of.
“I am looking forward to building a great program that will excel both on and off the basketball court. I feel that there is tremendous potential here and I’m excited to get to work.”
Coach Wright’s appointment will begin immediately and a search to fill the vacant position of assistant coach will take place in the coming weeks.
http://www.gujackets.com/article/2279.php
Graceland University: www.graceland.edu
Photo Courtesy Graceland University
