New Sheffield High football coach has history with program
SHEFFIELD, Ala. (WHNT) — It’s an exciting time for Sheffield High School (SHS) football!
A new era of the school’s football program is officially underway, with a familiar face leading the charge. Following a 12-year run from 1987-1999 that included 9 playoff appearances and 5 regional titles, Head Coach Johnny Wright has returned to lead the Bulldogs.
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Wright’s coaching career spans a total of three decades and he’s returning to the field, coming out of retirement to do so in a move that has school leaders pumped for the program’s future.
“He’s going to bring the total package to us as far as academics and athletics and really help us bring some excitement to the school and the student body,” said SHS Principal Marcus Rice.
Rice says Wright has a number of past connections with the school. While in high school at Sheffield, Rice played for and coached alongside the Colbert County Sports Hall of Fame Inductee.
The principal reflected on Wright’s hard coaching when he played for him, but he knows it’s all for a purpose.
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“He definitely has mellowed a little bit from the 90’s I would say,” Rice told News 19. “Our kids are going to be shocked at how much he does care and how much energy he’s going to have and it’s going to be a great experience.”
SHS Athletic Director David Hufstedler tells News 19 Wright is a proven winner, bringing an element of hard work to their football program and will have a profound impact on the entire campus.
“This guy brings more than just winning, he brings character, he brings a work ethic and he’s going to model it every day. I’m so excited for our student-athletes to get a piece of him,” Hufstedler said.
Similar to Rice, Hufstedler also played for and coached alongside Wright. He says it’s going to be an honor for his son to be led by a man who affected his life for the better on and off the field.
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“I got into coaching because of him, he’s a father-like figure to me. Everywhere I’ve been, I’ve always taken a little bit of what he taught me and tried to put it in,” he said.
No matter the outcome of their future seasons, the Bulldogs athletic director knows their student-athletes are in for something special.
“I don’t know what our win-lose record is going to be, but I know these young men are going to turn into men and their win-lose records when they leave here in becoming a man is going to be bigger than anything else,” Hufstedler told News 19.
School leaders say they look forward to the Sheffield community packing the stands at Walton Wright Stadium this upcoming fall!
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