Meet Redwood’s New Athletic Director, Mr. Michael Wright

By: Krissy Hetherington

During the break, Redwood took the initiative to hire a new Athletic Director. This position was filled by Mr. Michael Wright in June and he started his first day on July 1st.

Wright’s History

This is Wright’s first role as a Head Athletic Director but he has a strong resume proving he will fit the position perfectly. Some of his past roles have included:

• Teaching social science and AVID at the high school level for 24 years
• Taught and coached at Hanford and Redwood
• Most previously, spent 13 years at Dinuba High
• Has spent all 24 years as a Head Wrestling Coach
• Spent the past two years as Dinuba High School’s Assistant Athletic Director and Director of Football Operations, overseeing football from 7th to 12th grade.

As a head wrestling coach, he was able to completely turn around Dinuba’s program. He coached two teams that have placed in the Top 10 in State, several wrestlers placed in the Top 25, one State Champion, two finalists, and many state placers and qualifiers.

He also brought the school their first League and D2 Valley titles in Wrestling as well as Dinuba’s first state placer. He turned a team of 7 wrestlers into the school’s only Division 1 program.

Redwood’s Wrestling Coach, Watts, has known Mr. Wright since 2004. They coached on the USA National teams together for a few years and coached each others’ sons over the years.

“Mr. Wright is a fierce competitor on the mat and he always expects the best out of his athletes. He cares about coaches, kids and doing the right thing. His work ethic is his best attribute, he works tirelessly to get better and stay on top of things he can control,” said Coach Watts.

Wright also has a past with Coach Scharton as the running backs and special teams coordinator for 8 years. Together, they led the team to 4 Valley title games and won the D2 Valley Championship once.

“Coach Wright is a doer, a workaholic, and has a knack for being an AD since he handled all the behind the scenes paper work, management, and organization as the Head Football Coordinator,” said Scharton.

“I know he’s going to do a good job because I’ve seen it with my own eyes at Dinuba. We have someone who will step in and do his very best for all people.”

On behalf of Wright, Scharton also wanted to add “We have someone who will step in and do his very best for all people. He’s very down to earth and approachable, his number one focus will be the student athletes, and he believes strength is in number and that’s something he will focus on, getting coaches together to be on the same page moving towards the same direction to make us all successful.”

His Passion and Vision

Mr. Wright has taken the time to really evaluate and plan for not only this upcoming school year and sports seasons, but also his goals during his time here at Redwood. Ultimately he wants to “lead a successful athletic department both academically and in sport.”

Specific goals Wright plans to implement:

• See all 22 sports reach the Division 1 level
• Get all athletes more involved in weightlifting classes at school and building stronger off-season programs
• Hold a great athletic fundraiser
• Begin to host an annual “Hall of Fame Night” to induct the school’s greatest athletes into the Redwood Athletics Hall of Fame
• help athletes play sports in college by getting them the necessary information and meeting with the athlete and their parents to help get them get placed, properly to ensure their success
• bring the coaches closer together, be a support system for each other, and sustain success through stability by being there for “the long haul”
• coaches and athletes feel supported in trying to reach their specific goals and to provide them whatever they need to reach those goals.

“Lastly, my goal is to lead by example, I will be the first one on campus each morning and one of the last to leave. Our athletes will see me working out every day at 6am and be to work on time, dressed for success. I want to be a professional example, for them to see that hard work pays off and that good things happen to good people.”

Wright has taken a more active role in social media announcements and keeping both athletes and parents encouraged and updated on anything going on with sports and Redwood.

Make sure to follow and show support on Instagram and Twitter.

His encouragement to student athletes right now is to stay on top of their school work above all.

“We cannot control when we will play so we need to focus on the things we can control and that is our academics. We will play again and we need to be ready. You all need to be prepared physically and mentally. Do your school work and then get better. Watch your sport, run, lift, just GET BETTER!”

“I am excited about that first Friday night under the lights in the bowl, watching our girls tennis team extend their continuous winning streak, seeing boys basketball get back to Selland Arena and this time raising up the Valley Championship plaque, seeing our girls wrestling team get that first state placer, and for spring sports to just get back to competing after not being allowed to play last season,” said Wright.

Amidst a Pandemic

Becoming an Athletic Director has always been Wright’s professional goal so when it became available, he put in his application immediately.

“Leaving a stable job during a pandemic was and still is scary. But, for the past 24 years I have preached to my students and athletes that you have to chase your dreams no matter what they are or who and what is trying to keep you from reaching your goals. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to work at a school with a rich athletic tradition. Jobs like Redwood do not open very often and this is the one job I felt good about leaving for. It is a dream job.”

His plan for this year is to move along with the approved CIF plan with sports starting in the Winter. But in doing so, this means all the planning for a normal school year had to be thrown out and require starting brand new with the changed dates. These changes include brand new schedules, transportation plans, and planning for overlapping sports seasons.

Luckily, he was already able to meet with almost all 22 varsity coaches, 1 on 1, to connect and get on the same page. He’s going to start doing check ins with student athletes and their eligibility to see how he can help them, academically, socially, and emotionally especially during this time when sports are such a big part of kids’ lives.

As a message to the kids to keep them motivated he says that he is, “just looking forward getting back to normalcy, school, practice, and competition. I am anxious to meet and interact with our athletes and to go to practice and see their development.”

Starting completely new as an Athletic Director and with the given circumstances has been a challenge for Wright but he is grateful for his relationships with staff such as Mr. Paolinelli from the past who have helped him adjust and learn all the policies and procedures without the stress of competition.

“Really, all the coaches and staff have been very supportive of me and it makes the transition a lot easier. We know there will be a few bumps in the road but we are working hard now to keep them to a minimum.”

Welcome to the Ranger Family

When he received the call saying he got the job, on an early morning in June from Assistant Superintendent Somavia, Wright was excited and happy but then his mind instantly switched to “when can I start?”

“I just could not wait until I was board approved so we could celebrate with my friends and family. It is a phenomenal feeling to work toward a goal and see it come to fruition. It is really indescribable.”

He would like to publicly thank the selection committee: Assistant Superintendent Dedi Somavia, Area Administrator Mike Waters, Director of Health Services Suzy Skaden, Principal Matt Shin, Vice Principal Eric Paolinelli, and former El Diamante AD Greg Flenory for “selecting me to lead Redwood Athletics, it was a tough and intense process and I am honored to have been selected.”

Redwood’s Prinicipal, Matt Shin was very impressed by Wright’s coaching and teaching history in three different districts, his knowledge and access with NCAA Clearinghouse, and success in all aspects of his career.

“He is very well organized, personable, and outgoing. He’s passionate about athletes and students’ success, isn’t afraid to work hard and make things better, and is very successful it whatever he puts his mind to because he’s very driven and has such a strong work ethic.”

Something else that stood out to Shin was his familiarity with the community, school, coaches, and staff since he coached and raised his family here before taking on the job at Dinuba.

Shin ended with “I hope people welcome him as they would anyone else that’s brand new to Redwood, he’s a vital part of our school, and I believe people will really appreciate his passion for Redwood and athletics. He wants people and this program to be successful in all aspects.”

One moment that has stood out to Wright was during a meeting 15 years ago when he was at Redwood. It was about what it means and looks like to be a Redwood Ranger each and everyday.

“Redwood has school pride that is not only evident in their students but in the alumni and staff as well. I know every school says they have school spirit but I have been at 3 schools and there is something special about being a Redwood Ranger. The athletes work hard and the parents are supportive. The alumni are awesome and we will need to lean on their continued support especially this upcoming season.”

Wright’s final remarks concluded with, “I would just like the Redwood family to know that sports are my passion. I want to develop relationships with our student athletes that leads to life-long learning and friendships. I want our athletes and coaches to know that I am here for them, to serve and support them. The athletes will know how much I love sports as they will see me at practice and competitions, even at away events. You will see me do everything that I can to help our coaches and athletes be successful.”

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