By JOHN C. COTEY, Times Staff Writer
Published April 12, 2005
ST. PETERSBURG - Sitting in his office a day before heading to the state semifinals for the sixth time since 1985, Dan Wright smiled contently at the notion that he has built what he always sought: a basketball dynasty.
"And I don't see it ending any time soon," Wright said proudly.
Good news for Lakewood. Bad news for everyone else.
Even with his best player producing far below his season standards in the state semifinals and final, Wright squeezed every minute he could from a deep bench to guide the Spartans to a Class 4A state championship and earn Coach of the Year honors.
The Spartans finished 31-2, losing only to nationally-regarded St. Benedict's of New Jersey and Sarasota Booker. The Booker loss, in the district final, fueled Lakewood throughout the playoffs.
Wright has three 30-win seasons and two state championships since 1992, and has won 25 or more seven straight seasons, a mark unmatched in Tampa Bay.
After 28 years, Pinellas County's all-time winningest coach isn't saying when he'll hang up his whistle, but if the wins and state titles keep coming, it might not be anytime soon. And that is very good news for Lakewood.
