It’s Teacher Appreciation Week here at Emerson High School. One of our many multi-talented teachers students are grateful for is Kevin Wright. His commitment to his students and the respect he has for his many peers makes him the epitome of what it means to be a Maverick.

Wright’s unique approach to command the classroom has made him a fan favorite amongst his students. He easily relates to his students and always tries the best he can to empower them in the classroom.

Spending the majority of his childhood involved in sports, Wright always saw himself going down the path of athletics.

“Growing up, I always loved sports but I was the most passionate about football. The more passionate I got for it, the better I got and because of that, I received a chance to do what I love at the next level,” Wright said.

As Wright matured he began to take his passion for football to the next level. In 2010 he committed to play wide receiver at the University of Memphis.

“What made me want to pursue football at that next level was a combination of my family and my passion for the game. My family was always extremely supportive of what I wanted to commit my life to and my passion for football was what took me to that next level because of how much I wanted it,” Wright said.

Wright took a year off from football, also known as redshirting, during his freshman year. Afterward, Wright went on to have an extremely successful redshirt freshman year in 2011, making eight starts, hauling in 36 catches for 398 yards and one touchdown.

“During my redshirt season, I was just focused on becoming the best player I could be. I was so focused on being great on the field and that work paid off,” Wright said.

After his time at the University of Memphis came to an end due to injury, Wright went on to focus on other things that piqued his interest over time. But, he never lost his love for the game.

“When football became a path I couldn’t continue on I was kind of lost. I’ve always had love for the game and I always will. After I started coaching I re-found my love for being a part of the game,” Wright said.

After finding his footing in the world of coaching,Wright received an offer to become both a wide receiver coach and a member of the track and field coaching staff here at Emerson High School.

“The time I’ve spent playing at the wide receiver position was really what polished me into who I am as a coach today. My goal is to instill the same rules my coaches instilled in me to produce consistency. Being able to have an impact on the lives of these young players really makes me happy because I can pass on the knowledge these young men need to succeed and positively impact the culture of our track and football programs,” Wright said.