Billy Wright enters his sixth season as the head coach of the Western Illinois University men's basketball team. The coaching veteran maintains 20-plus years of experience, including former stints as the Leathernecks' assistant (2008-10) and associate head coach (2010-13). He was named the program's 20th head coach on April 15, 2014.
Wright assisted Western to a share of the Summit League's regular-season championship during the 2012-13 season and made history during the 2018-19 tournament where the Leathernecks upset South Dakota State, 79-76, in the quarterfinal round to become the first No. 8 seed in league history to defeat the No. 1. The victory also marked WIU's first Summit League Tournament victory since 2013.
THE RESUME
Personal:
Name: Billy Wright
Hometown: Richmond, IN
Alma Mater: Bradley University, 1996
Spouse: Monica Wright
Son: William Wright III (Trey)
Coaching Experience:
2014-Pres.: Head Coach Western Illinois University
2013-2014: Assistant Coach Ball State University
2010-2013: Associate Head Coach Western Illinois University
2008-2010: Assistant Coach Western Illinois University
2006-2008: Head Coach Pike High School Indianapolis, IN
2001-2006: Varsity Assistant Pike High School Indianapolis, IN
1996-2001: Junior Varsity Head Coach Ben Davis High School Indianapolis, IN
Playing Experience:
2017 Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame Silver Anniversary Team - Richmond High School (IN)
2007 Hall of Fame Inductee - Bradley University
1996 NCAA Tournament - Bradley University
1996 NCAA Missouri Valley Conference Champs - Bradley University
1996 NCAA Missouri Valley All-Conference - Bradley University
1994-96 NCAA Missouri Valley Conference All-Defense - Bradley University
1993 NCAA Missouri Valley Conference All-Freshman - Bradley University
1992 IHSAA State Champion - Richmond High School
1992 Indiana Mini Mr. Basketball (Best Player under 6’0”) - Richmond High School 1992 Indiana All-Star - Richmond High School
Under Billy Wright: Leathernecks in the Pros:
“The goal for every young man who commits to our program is what I call The Big Three: earn their degree, win a championship, and have an opportunity to extend their playing career beyond college. I’ve been blessed to coach three NBA first-round draft picks in Marquis Teague, Jeff Teague, and Courtney Lee, and have had many more go on to sign professional contracts to play overseas. Having relationships with general managers, scouts and agents has been helpful to our players here at Western Illinois University, and to their credit, the players who consistently put in the work, buy in, and trust the process have benefited the most. The game is global now, and with social media, scouting services, etc., kids are realizing that you don’t have to go to a Power Five conference in order to play professionally after college.” - Billy Wright
During Wright’s time at Western, the Leathernecks have had nine players sign professional contracts after earning a degree from Western Illinois University:
- Brandon Gilbeck Years at WIU: 2015-19 Signed with: Denmark
- Dalan Ancrum Years at WIU: 2014-18 Signed with: Qatar
- Garret Covington Years at WIU: 2013-17 Signed with: Albacete, Spain
- Mike Miklusak Years at WIU: 2013-17 Signed with: Dutch Basketball League
- J.C. Fuller Years at WIU: 2014-16 Signed with: Cáceres Patrimonio
- Jalen Chapman Years at WIU: 2014-16 Signed with: Grevenbroich, Germany
- Jamie Batish Years at WIU: 2014-16 Signed with: Cheshire Phoenix, England
- Michael Ochereobia Years at WIU: 2012-14 Signed with: Efantas Du, France
- Terell Parks Years at WIU: 2011-13 Signed with: Keravnos (Cyprus)
- Jack Houpt Years at WIU: 2010-13 Signed with: Keysborough, Australia
- Ceola Clark III Years at WIU: 2007-13 Signed with: Tajfun, Slovenian
NCAA Academic Achievement:
- 2019 Three Players Named to WIU Dean’s List
- 2018 Team GPA = 3.19 (Spring Semester = 3.21)
- 2016-17 Perfect APR Score – 1000
- 2015-16 Perfect APR Score – 1000
- 2014-18 Perfect Graduation Rate (13/13)
- Six consecutive semesters with a Team GPA above 2.95
- Men’s Basketball Highest All-Sports Team GPA: 3.23 (2008)
- Six Academic All-Conference Players & Two Academic All-District Players
Signature Wins
- 2019 Upset Win Over South Dakota State University; #8 Seed WIU 79 #1 Seed SDSU 76 (3.9.19)
- 2018 Tied 2015 Best start in WIU DI Era
- 2015 First Ever Program Win over a Nationally Ranked Team @ #17 Wisconsin (11-13-15)
- 2015 Received four votes in AP Poll; first time in program history
- 2015 Best start in WIU DI Era
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING
- 16-Year PGA Veteran Bo Van Pelt
“I am proud to say I have known Coach Wright for 30 years. Billy was a coach on the floor even back in elementary and middle school. Not only has Billy always known the game of basketball, he has always been the hardest worker in the gym. The work ethic that his parents instilled is why he has been successful every step of the way. The players, fans and alumni of Western Illinois should be ecstatic about the man that has been hired to run their basketball program.
- Liberty Head Coach Ritchie McKay
“Billy Wright is one of the best young coaches out there! He has a bright basketball mind, is an excellent recruiter and truly invests in the lives of young people! The Leathernecks got a great coach when they hired Billy!”
- Nine-Year NBA Veteran Anthony Parker
“I am excited that Coach Wright will get the opportunity to show what I’ve known since he was my point guard 20 years ago. He is a high IQ guy that has a passion for teaching this game. I’ve been so proud and impressed with Coach Wright both as a person and a coach during his journey. I believe in his ability and know that he will represent the Western Illinois University well with a team that reflects his passion, determination, and character.”
- Boston Celtics Head Coach Brad Stevens
“I’m really happy for both Billy Wright and WIU. Billy’s a great basketball coach, with high energy and integrity. Knowing Billy, he will hit the ground running in his efforts to make WIU basketball the best it can be.”
NBA Players Coached while coaching at Pike High School in Indianapolis:
NBA 1st Round Draft Choice 2008 Orlando Magic
(Pike H.S. – Western Kentucky) Courtney Lee
NBA 1st Round Draft Choice 2009 Atlanta Hawks
(Pike H.S. – Wake Forest) Jeff Teague
NBA 1st Round Draft Choice 2012 Chicago Bulls
(Pike H.S. – Kentucky) Marquis Teague
THE BIO
Billy Wright enters his sixth season as the head coach of the Western Illinois University men's basketball team. The coaching veteran maintains 20-plus years of experience, including former stints as the Leathernecks' assistant (2008-10) and associate head coach (2010-13). He was named the program's 20th head coach on April 15, 2014.
Wright assisted Western to a share of the Summit League's regular-season championship during the 2012-13 season and made history during the 2018-19 tournament where the Leathernecks upset South Dakota State, 79-76, in the quarterfinal round to become the first No. 8 seed in league history to defeat the No. 1. The victory also marked WIU's first Summit League Tournament victory since 2013.
Wright's second year as head coach began with a splash as WIU opened its season at No. 17 Wisconsin. After the Badgers hung their Final Four banner in front of a sold out crowd, Western pulled off a 69-67 upset inside the Kohl Center. The victory marked several firsts for the program including its first win over a nationally-ranked team in the DI era as well as its first votes received in the AP' Top 25' poll.
The Leathernecks went on to begin the season 5-0, matching the program's best start in the DI era. Garret Covington earned Second Team All-Summit League honors for the third straight season and joined JC Fuller as 'Player of the Week' honorees during the season.
Wright and the Fighting Leathernecks went 22-9 (13-3 in the Summit) during the 2012-13 championship season where it also finished second in the nation with 53.6 points allowed per game. The 22 wins were a program Division I record.
Wright helped mentor Ceola Clark III, a two-time Summit League Defensive Player of the Year winner in 2010 and 2012, and Terell Parks, the Defensive Player of the Year in 2013.
The 2011-12 Leatherneck team made history by posting its best record in over 10 years. Finishing 18-15 overall and 9-9 in Summit League, WIU made a historic run in the conference tournament, downing North Dakota State and top-seeded Oral Roberts before falling to South Dakota State in the championship game. Western also took part in its first-ever postseason tournament with an invite to the College Basketball Invitational. It concluded the season ranked in the top-30 of four national categories: 11th in personal fouls per game (15.0), 12th in three-point field goal percentage (39.5), 22nd in scoring defense (60.2), and 27th in turnovers per game (11.4).
The Leatherneck defense opened 2010 in the NCAA statistical rankings as it held opponents to 58.2 points per game for a No. 22 ranking out of 334 teams (1/4/10). By the week of February 22, Western's defense had reached its highest ranking of the season as it sat at No. 10 for the first time. Western closed out the season with the No. 10 ranking, holding opponents to only 59.6 points per game, while also leading the Summit League in the category. Clark's Defensive Player of the Year award marked the first time in program history a Western Illinois player earned the yearly honor.
In 2008-09, Western recorded its best conference start since the 1997-98 season. Wright worked with Western's highest leading scorer since the 1996-97 season in senior David DuBois, who was also a Summit League all-conference selection.
Academically, Wright helped WIU earn a 3.231 team grade point average during the Fall 2008 semester. It marked the team's best GPA in 11 years and was also a higher GPA then that of the Macomb campus (2.880). The Leathernecks had 10 players on the roster with a 3.0 GPA or better and two players with a perfect 4.0 GPA. DuBois became one of only two league players to earn 2008-09 CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District First Team honors. In the following season, senior David Nurse became the only Summit League player to earn the 2009-10 CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District First Team award as a first-year graduate student. His Western tenure includes six academic all-conference players and two CoSIDA All-District players.
A 2007 inductee into the Bradley University Hall of Fame, Wright played under Jim Molinari at Bradley from 1992-96. In his senior campaign (1996), he was named to the Missouri Valley First Team, while helping lead the Braves to an MVC Title and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Wright was also selected to the MVC All-Defensive Team for three-straight years (1994-96). In his freshman campaign, he was named to the MVC All-Freshman Team. He scored 909 points in his four-year career and added 595 assists with 219 steals; the latter category ranked third all-time in school history.
