Wright hired as boys’ basketball coach at A-J

Robbie Wright has been hired as Anna-Jonesboro Community High School’s boys’ basketball coach for the  2009-2010 season.

Wright was hired at last week’s regular meeting of the A-JCHS District 81 Board of Education.

“I’ve watched them play two or three times,” Wright said about the Wildcats. “There is some talent coming back. We have quickness, size and can shoot. I think we’ve got a chance to have a pretty good team.”

 Wright said he would employ his own coaching techniques with the Wildcats.

“There are going to be some changes,” he said. “They are going to learn man-to-man (defense).”

Wright, who was a former head varsity coach at Egyptian High School for three seasons, taught there for 12 years and coached at every level.

He was an assistant coach at A-J under former head coaches Benji Johnson and Mike Crews.

Wright was a starting center on the 1985 A-J team that advanced to the state tournament. He played basketball after graduation at Shawnee Community College.

He is the superintendent and principal at Lick Creek School. Prior to taking over that position this past school year, he was a principal at Pope County for five years.

“I missed being out of coaching,” Wright said. “I talked it over with my wife (about the A-J job) and she said why not go for it.”

A-J assistant principal Brett Detering said Wright was hired unanimously on a 6-0 vote, with one school board member absent.

Wright succeeds Brian Matzenbacher, who lost his teaching position at A-J.