Joey Wright

For other people with similar names, seeJoe Wright (disambiguation)andJoseph Wright (disambiguation).

Joey Wright

Personal information
Born	(1968-09-04)September 4, 1968 Alton, Illinois,U.S.
Listed height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Listed weight	185 lb (84 kg)
Career information
High school	Gavit(Hammond, Indiana)
College	Drake(1986–1987) Texas(1988–1991)
NBA draft	1991:2nd round, 50th overall pick
Selected by thePhoenix Suns
Playing career	1991–1996
Position	Point guard
Coaching career	1997–present
Career history
As player:
1992	Presto Ice Cream Kings
1993–1994	APOEL B.C.
1995–1996	Geelong Supercats
As coach:
1997–1998	Austin Cyclones
2001–2002	Regents School of Austin
2002–2003	St. Edward's(assistant)
2002–2008	Brisbane Bullets
2008	Seastar APOEL
2009–2012	Gold Coast Blaze
2013–2020	Adelaide 36ers
Career highlights and awards
As player: First-team All-SWC(1991) As coach: NBL champion(2007) 3×NBL Coach of the Year(2004,2007,2017)
Statsat Basketball-Reference

Joey Glenn Wright(born September 4, 1968)is an American professionalbasketballcoach and former player. He has been the head coach of three teams in the AustralianNational Basketball League:theBrisbane Bullets,which won an NBL championship in 2007, the now-defunctGold Coast Blazeand theAdelaide 36ers.He is a three-timeNBL Coach of the Year(2003–04, 2006–07 and 2016–17), and was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011.

College career

Wright was born inAlton, Illinoisand enrolled atDrake UniversityinDes Moines, Iowaafterhigh school.He played on theDrake Bulldogsbasketball squad during the 1986-87NCAAseason but received little playing time on the court. Wright transferred after his freshman year to theUniversity of Texasfor a chance to play with the school's prestigiousLonghornsbasketball team.After sitting out as aredshirt sophomorein 1987–88, Wright was selected as the Longhorn'spoint guardfrom 1988 through 1991.Wright and teammates'Lance BlanksandTravis Maysstellar offensive performance dubbed the trio as the "BMW Scoring Machine" during the 1989-90 basketball season.Wright was particularly known for his hustling and effective jump shots that greatly helped contribute to the "Scoring Machine".The Longhorn team won theSouthwest Conferencetournament that season and advanced to theElite Eightin the1990 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament.

Professional basketball career

Wright spent the spring of 1991 at theChicagoNational Basketball Associationtryout camp, where he showcased a high field goal percentage and averaged nearly ten points a game.He even caught the eye of theBoston Celtics,who expressed an interest in Joey Wright during the tryouts.However the Celtics eventually passed up on Wright, whose lack in quickness and size were looked down upon.Wright was nonetheless projected to be drafted in either the late 1st or early 2nd round of the1991 NBA draft.Several weeks later he was selected at the tail end of the 2nd round as the 50th pick of the NBA Draft by thePhoenix Suns.Friends and Longhorn teammates celebrated the announcement at Joey Wright's apartment; but despite all the excitement the former University of Texas basketball star was much concerned with his low draft pick.Joey Wright was released by the Suns prior to the1991–92 NBA season.Although Wright played overseas for several years, he never appeared in an NBA game.

Wright played for theGeelong Supercatsduring the 1995 and 1996 NBL seasons.

Coaching career

Drawing upon previous coaching experience with the Austin Cyclones in the Southwest Basketball League (USA) and other US teams, Wright sought a coaching contract in the NBL. He was appointed as the Brisbane Bullets'head coachmidway through the 2002–03 season; a position which he held until 2008. Wright led the team to great heights including a 16-win improvement in the following 2003–04 season, successive finals appearances and a stellar 2006–07 season featuring a minor premiership, a 21 NBL game winning streak and a championship.

After the Blaze folded at the end of the2011–12 NBL season,Wright sat out2012–13before being signed as head coach of theAdelaide 36ersfor the2013–14 NBL season.The 36ers, who had finished last in three of the previous four NBL seasons, finished second in the season, with Joey Wright named the NBL's Coach of the Month for November after leading the 36ers to a 5–0 record for the month which included a 91–86 home win at theAdelaide Arenaover the previously undefeatedPerth Wildcatson November 22, 2013. Wright helped revive the 36ers fortunes and the team went from the bottom of the NBL ladder to playing in theNBL Grand Finalin his first season with the club, though they ultimately were beaten 2–1 in the Grand Final series by the Wildcats.

With Wright having lifted the 36ers from the bottom of the ladder to theNBL Grand Finalin just one season, most were shocked when the NBL namedWollongong HawkscoachGordie McLeodas the NBL's Coach of the Year for season 2013–14. Adelaide had improved from an 8–20 record in 2012–13 to 18–10 in 2013–14 while Wollongong, finalists in 2012–13 with a 13–15 record also finished 2013–14 with the same 13–15 record.

Adelaide again made it to the Semi-finals in2014–15,but missed the playoffs in2015–16.In the2016–17 NBL season,the 36ers started off slowly winning just 3 of their first 9 games. However, from there they became the team to beat, winning 14 of their next 15 games and by Round 16 of the 19 round, 28-game season had been confirmed as regular season champions for the first time since1999–2000.The 36ers finished the season with a 17–11 record, two games clear of the second placedCairns Taipans.Wright won the Coach of the Month award in November, December and January, going undefeated in December. As a result, Wright won his 3rd Coach of the Year award on February 13, 2017, joiningBrian Goor gianandLindsay Gaze(who the CotY award is named for) as a 3-time winner of the award.At the season's conclusion, Wright signed a five-year contract extension with the 36ers.

On 26 February 2020, Wright and the Adelaide 36ers parted ways, citing a mutual agreement following an end of season review.The 36ers and NBL investigated Wright over bullying allegations made by team co-captainKevin White.

Personal life

Wright later pursued a career outside of sports in theTexasreal estateindustry.He operates two businesses at his home inAustin, Texasbut spends his time overseas in Australia as a basketball coach. He has four children and is married to Helen Wright.

External links

• Profileat Eurobasket