MOREHEAD, Ky. – Bob Wright, who coached the Morehead State men’s basketball team for four seasons and guided the Eagles to the 1969 Ohio Valley Conference co-championship, has passed away at the age of 86.
Wright died Sunday at the Pikeville (Ky.) Medical Center. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Friday in the original Millard High School with Shane Lockard officiating. Arrangements are under direction of Lucas & Son Funeral Home of Pikeville. Visitation is in the Lucas & Son Funeral Home Chapel, after 6 p.m. Wednesday, with special services at 7 p.m. Thursday.
Following his playing career at Marshall University, Wright served as the highly successful head boy’s basketball coach at Ashland (Ky.) Paul Blazer High School where he led the Tomcats to the 1961 state title. He posted a 168-29 record in five years at Ashland. He graduated from Marshall with a bachelor’s degree in 1950 and received his master’s degree from Morehead State in 1961.
He was named the Outstanding Athlete at Marshall following his senior season when he led the Thundering Herd with 19.5 points per game.
Wright was named head coach at MSU prior to the 1965-66 season and led the Eagles through the 1968-69 campaign. He compiled a 58-38 record at MSU, including an 18-9 mark his final year when the Eagles won the share of the conference championship.
Wright was instrumental in the development of a number of highly decorated student-athletes in MSU history. At Ashland, he mentored future MSU Athletic Hall of Fame member and 1963 All-American Harold Sergent. While at MSU, Wright coached the famous “Birmingham Four” during their careers, including future Athletic Hall of Fame honorees Lamar Green, Willie “Hobo” Jackson, Howard Smith and Bruce King.
He also guided notable players such as Athletic Hall of Famer Ron Gathright and two-time All-OVC player Jerry Conley. Five of his former players are still listed among the top 20 rebounders in school history.
Wright’s 1968-69 OVC co-championship team averaged more than 90 points per game and his teams eclipsed the 100-point plateau 14 times in his four-year tenure.
