One of the greatest sprint coaches in U.S. track and field history, Stan Wright served the sport for more than 40 years both as a coach and administrator. His greatest coaching fame came at Texas Southern University, where his team frequently dominated the Texas, Kansas and Drake Relays. His athletes went on to achieve major honors and four became Olympians, including Jimmy Hines, who became world record holder in the 100m dash and a member of the Hall of Fame. Wright's numerous international coaching assignments included being named assistant coach of the U.S. Olympic men's team in 1968 and 1972. At the 1968 Games, athletes coached by Wright won six gold medals, three silver medals and four bronze medals and set five world records. After leaving Texas Southern in 1967, he coached at Western Illinois for two years before moving to California State University at Sacramento. He left there in 1979 to become athletic director at Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey. The author of numerous articles and publications, Wright also served for many years with the U.S. Olympic Committee and The Athletics Congress (the predecessor of USATF). He was TAC treasurer from 1989 to 1992 and chairman of the organization's budget and finance committee from 1980 to 1989.
Coach Administrator