Vikings make the Wright choice
By Francis X. Bova III
Amy Wright, a former point guard with 2 1/2 years of professional playing experience, was recently named women’s assistant basketball coach at Cleveland State.
In the 2007-08 season, the Vikings made their first NCAA Tournament appearance and won their first Horizon League Championship.
“I couldn’t ask for a better place to be right now,” Wright said.
Wright’s previous assistant coaching experience at Western Kentucky University and the University of South Florida included trips to the postseason.
Wright, a four-year letter-winner at Arkansas and former WNBA player, will focus a lot of her energy on the Vikings’ young backcourt that includes juniors Kailey Klein and Angel Rogue.
“It will probably be mostly guards,” Wrights said of her responsibilities. “I know Kate (Peterson Abiad) loves the Xs and Os. So, I think I would add input here and there where I can.”
Peterson Abiad, the Vikings head coach, recruited Wright in the late 90s at Northeastern High School in Indiana. At the time, Peterson-Abiad was an assistant at the University of Wisconsin.
“Amy is a welcome addition to our coaching staff,” Peterson Abiad said in a statement released on May 19. “She brings a tremendous amount of coaching and playing experience with her and will help take our program to the next level. She will be an outstanding resource for our players because of her basketball knowledge and I look forward to working with Amy as we continue to build a strong foundation in our program.”
But since May 1, one question keeps popping up for Wright. How was it playing professionally?
“It was a really great experience,” said Wright, who rates Indiana Fever and former Tennessee forward Tamika Catchings and former Trinity High School, Tennessee guard and current Ohio University coach Semeka Randall as two of the top players she’s played against. “A lot of the girls do ask about that here at Cleveland State. All I can say to them is, you have to pursue it while you can.
“Whether you’re fresh out of college, whether it’s an opportunity to play overseas, whether it’s an opportunity to play on a semi-pro team, you have to pursue it because you never know what is going to happen.”
-30-