By Angie Ledbetter

Coach Willis Wright of Batesville, who is credited with starting South Panola High School’s football dynasty, will be honored by Saltillo High School, where he formerly coached, when the school names its football stadium after him. Ceremonies at halftime during the ballgame on September 9 will make it official.

Even though the field is named the Mitch Grisham Field, the stadium will be named Willis Wright Stadium.

“It was really a surprise when they called me three weeks ago about it because I hadn’t coached there in 30 years,” said Wright. “I think it’s a wonderful compliment and I appreciate it but it’s not something I expected at all. I was totally caught by surprise because I don’t get to go back over there very much.”

Wright coached at Saltillo for eight years from 1973-1980 where he won four consecutive Tombigbee Conference titles with a 65-17-2 record.

“It was a special time and I was young in coaching. I really developed a special relationship with the people. I coached there eight years so it was longer than anywhere else. Those years were the most enjoyable years of my life.”

Wright also coached at Starkville, Greenville, Ala., and Nettleton before coming to South Panola in 1991. He coached the Tigers to their first 5A State championship in 1993.

Wright later coached at North Delta School, helping the Green Wave win a state championship in 2000.
Wright compared his early days to the last days of coaching.

“I think it was maybe a little bit easier when I was coaching at Saltillo because it was more of a family atmosphere thing. When the state championships came it put a little more extra pressure on you. With the conferences you just compete in your area but the last two years I had to compete state wide. It was more pressure to win my last few years.”

When Wright left Saltillo he started a long journey of coaching. His first stop after Saltillo was Starkville.

 “Saltillo at the time was a 3A school and I had a chance to go to a 5A so I wanted to take that opportunity.”

  While at Starkville Wright won the 5A state championship in 1986. His next stop was Greenville Alabama where he coached three years and won the 5A state championship in 1987. He then returned to Nettleton but in 1991 he started coaching at South Panola where he coached for three seasons winning the 5A state championship in 1993.  He stayed on as the athletic director for two years after not coaching.

Wright came out of retirement in 1999 to coach at North Delta where he coached two years and won the state championship in 2000. South Panola was his next stop again where he stayed six years.

 “Ricky Woods talked me into it and when he went to Georgia I stayed to try and help Coach Lance Pogue with the smooth transition. Then I got out of coaching at that time.”

“I was tickled to death to be part of all of the state championships with Woods and Pogue both. That was a very special accomplishment for me also.”

Wright also coached in five all star games.

Since retiring Wright has missed coaching.

“You always miss it on game days if you have it in your blood. I don’t think you ever get to the point that you don’t miss that. It was during the week when you’re out there doing stuff and it’s so hot that I don’t miss it.”

Wright has some many special memories where he’s coached.

“I have so many wonderful memories that I couldn’t begin to tell you. The state championship in 1993 was unbelievable and special because my son was on the team and then one at North Delta in 2000.  Over the years I had so many good memories at all of the schools. I had some good teams.”

Wright gives credit to his players also.

  “I had some great players. The key to any success that I’ve had is because of the great players I had. I had the opportunity to coach with some great coaches also. Another key to success is to surround yourself around good people.”

“It’s been a lot of fun and I feel like I’ve been richly blessed. I don’t think anybody feels more strongly blessed than I do. The Lord has been good to me with all of the wonderful coaching experiences and I’m so appreciative of all of them.”

   “I’m just so thankful for all of the honors and I’ve had more honors and blessings now than a man deserves.”

“When I was at Saltillo there was a coach that I followed that coached there for a very long time and his name was Mitch Grisham. The field is named after him and I thought that would be it. They going to keep his name for the field and put mine for the stadium. There were some guys up there that I coached with that really wanted to do something to honor me and I sure appreciate it.”

Wright was named the Jackson Daily News Coach of the year in 1984, Birmingham Touchdown Club 5A Coach of the year in 1987, Mississippi Sportswriters Association Coach of the Year in 1993 and was inducted into the Mississippi Coaches Hall of Fame in 1998.

Wright is married to Teresa Phelps Wright and has one son Jack Wright and one grandson Mason James Wright who is four months old.

Wright is enjoying time with his grandson.

“He’s our pride and joy and he makes things happen for us.”