CLAIM TO FAME: He has three jobs. After class is dismissed and Lakewood High and varsity basketball practice is over, he spends his free time moonlighting at the Lake Vista Recreation Center in St. Petersburg. For the past 15 years Wright, a full-time teacher and head basketball coach, has worked with the center's youth programs, mentoring and running the youth basketball league. Wright took the part-time job because he and his wife were having a second child and welcomed the extra money. He stayed because he likes interacting with people. Each year he works with hundreds of children. More than 300 are participating in this year's basketball league. "I like being around the kids," Wright said. "I like seeing the development of young people."
He spends about 20 hours a week at the center, mostly evenings, whenever Lakewood doesn't have a game. He coached in the basketball league, but with Pinellas County's new school choice rules to prevent recruiting, he left the bench and now helps officiate. His coworkers say when there's a problem at the center with a youngster, Wright often diffuses it in his calm manner. People come to Lake Vista seeking Wright's advice. Coaches from the center's league, teens passing through and former players stop in for wisdom from Wright, who takes his position as a role model seriously. "I try to get them to understand the importance of education," Wright said. "Even in sports, there are a lot of things that apply to real life.
"We're teaching basketball, but we like to think we do a pretty good job of teaching life skills."
Wright's former students and players include Barry Brown, an assistant principal at St. Petersburg High, Dwight Latimore, Lakewood's head assistant coach and a teacher at Bayshore Middle, and Chris Blackwell, varsity basketball coach at St. Petersburg.
"That's what this is all about. You start out with young people, a lot of them are immature. As they grow, they become productive citizens in the community," Wright said.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING: "With him being such a high-profile coach in the community, he has no problem picking up a mop or picking up a dustpan or taking out the garbage. He does whatever he can to help the center."
- Paul Morrison, a recreation supervisor at Lake Vista.
DID YOU KNOW?: While playing guard at Florida Southern from 1974-76, he scored 1,001 points.
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?: Wright is in his 27th year as Lakewood's coach, quickly approaching 500 wins.
WORDS TO LIVE BY: "You get out what you put into what you're doing. You can't expect good things if you don't prepare for them."
