A Coaching Revolution

Coach Wright's Journey

 
Steven grew up in Maitland, Florida as one of three boys born to Don and Frances Wright. Having grown up in a home where sports were encouraged and in an area where outdoor activities were highly valued, Steven embraced the athletic opportunities he was afforded.  As sports like football, baseball, basketball and track contributed to his development, he soon came to realize that there was more to life than athletics.  At the age of twelve an event took place that would forever alter the course of his life, he placed his faith in Jesus Christ. By the time Steven reached high school he began searching to discover what this faith was all about. After attending Winter Park High School, where he earned letters in four different sports, served as a team captain and was nominated as a Florida Academic Scholar, his spiritual quest continued.
In 1990 Steven entered the University of Central Florida where he pursued his academic studies, athletic career and spiritual journey. During his time at UCF he majored in Business Administration, earned an athletic scholarship and started for four seasons as a defensive back for the football team, being elected a team captain his senior year. Steven also became very involved with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, serving as a huddle leader at a number of summer camps, speaking at local huddle groups and ultimately serving as president of the FCA chapter at UCF. In the fall of 1994 after a devastating football injury, Steven graduated with a Bachelors degree in Business Administration from UCF and began seeking his next step in life.

As his college career came to an end, he sought to discover the path Christ prepared for him. I n 1995, following graduation he moved to Dallas, Texas where he started graduate studies at Dallas Theological Seminary. While at DTS Steven grew in his knowledge and understanding of the Scriptures which had a profound impact on his Christian faith.  Simultaneously, he embarked on a career in coaching and teaching at Providence Christian School of Texas.  While at Providence, Steven taught History and Physical Education and served as the Head Coach for three different sports (Cross-Country, Track & Field, and Soccer).  While DTS served as a source for biblical and theological grounding, Providence functioned as the venue for its application.

In 1997, Steven married Rachel-Ruth Lotz. They spent the first year of their marriage in Dallas coaching and teaching together. Following their time there, they moved to North Carolina, where Steven earned a second Masters degree, this one in Intercultural Studies and began working with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes while staying plugged in with the coaching community.

In 2000, Steven became an Area College Director for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and a year later, while maintaining his ministry duties, became an assistant football coach at Needham Broughton High School. After two successful seasons at Broughton High School, he joined North Raleigh Christian Academy as Head Football Coach and Senior Bible Teacher. During his five years at North Raleigh, he enjoyed success both on the field and in the classroom, helping train leaders in a number of venues. In addition to Steven’s coaching and teaching duties, he spent time chairing the Bible Department and developing as a leader within the school’s administrative structure. 

In 2005 while serving at North Raleigh, Steven began work on a Doctoral degree in Christian Leadership with a concentration in Coaching and Leadership Development. In the spring of 2008, he officially launched A Coaching Revolution, a non-profit organization devoted to proclaiming biblical truth and equipping those in positions of leadership with the principles necessary to grow, mature and lead. In the summer of 2008 Steven left North Raleigh Christian Academy and joined Butch Davis' football program at the University of North Carolina. While at UNC, he assisted with their summer football camp and worked as an offensive quality control coach for John Shoop (Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach).  In 2009 while continuing to develop A Coaching Revolution, Steven completed his Doctoral studies.

Today, he serves as Head Football Coach and Assistant Athletic Director at Cardinal Gibbons High School, as well as speaker and lead consultant for A Coaching Revolution.  Steven continues to press forward with his vision to transform the athletic world from the inside-out by equipping those in the sports community with the tools needed to rightly influence the next generation of athletes, scholars and leaders.

Most recently Steven convened a group of academics, theologians, coaches and athletic administrators in Raleigh, NC to address some of the major issues facing the Christian sports community.  In 2014, after three, three-day conferences in three different states the 'Sport and Christianity Group' released a 'Declaration on Sport and the Christian Life' as a means of speaking to these critical issues.  (The declaration can be found at www.sportandchristianity.com)

Steven and Rachel-Ruth have three daughters, Bell, Sophia, and Riggin. They currently reside in Raleigh, North Carolina.

 

BACKGROUND

COACHING
CARDINAL GIBBONS HIGH SCHOOL - Raleigh, NC 2011-present
*Head Football Coach, Quarterbacks Coach
*Director of Strength and Conditioning (Football)
*Assistant Coach, Track & Field (Sprints)

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA - Chapel Hill, NC 2008
*Offensive Quality Control, Football (Quarterbacks)

NORTH RALEIGH CHRISTIAN ACADEMY - Raleigh, NC 2003-2008
*Head Football Coach, Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach
*Director of Strength and Conditioning (Football)
*Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach, Oasis Shrine Bowl All-Star Game (2007)
*President Big East Independent Football Conference (2006-2007)

NEEDHAM BROUGHTON HIGH SCHOOL - Raleigh, NC 2001-2002
*Assistant Coach, Football (Wide Receivers)
*Strength and Conditioning Consultant

PROVIDENCE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL of TEXAS - Dallas, TX 1995-1998
*Head Coach, Track & Field
*Head Coach, Cross-Country
*Head Coach, Soccer

UNIVERSITY of CENTRAL FLORIDA - Orlando, FL 1995 (spring)
*Graduate Assistant, Football (Defensive Backs)


PLAYING
BALTIMORE RAVENS, CAROLINA PANTHERS, DALLAS COWBOYS - 1998 
*Defensive Back
(Worked out for each team in spring/summer of 1998 after recovering from reconstructive knee surgery)

UNIVERSITY of CENTRAL FLORIDA - Orlando, FL 1990-1994
*Defensive Back (4-year starter and Team Captain)

WINTER PARK HIGH SCHOOL - Winter Park, FL 1987-1990
*4-Sport Letterman and Team Captain


EDUCATION
DUKE UNIVERSITY - Durham, NC 2012
*Duke Leadership Program

GORDON-CONWELL THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY - Charlotte, NC 2005-2009
*Doctor of Ministry (Christian Leadership)

SOUTHEASTERN BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY - Wake Forest, NC 1999-2000
*Master of Arts (Intercultural Studies)

DALLAS THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY - Dallas, TX 1995-1997
*Master of Arts (Biblical Studies)

UNIVERSITY of CENTRAL FLORIDA - Orlando, FL 1990-1994
*Bachelor of Science (Business Administration)


WORK
CARDINAL GIBBONS HIGH SCHOOL - Raleigh, NC 2011-present
*Head Football Coach, Quarterbacks Coach
*Assistant Athletic Director
*Director of Strength and Conditioning (Football)
*Health and Physical Education Department Chair/Educator

A COACHING REVOLUTION - Raleigh, NC 2008-present
*Founder and President
*Lead Consultant
*Developer/Presenter of ACR Coaching Curriculum
*Chapel Speaker

NORTH RALEIGH CHRISTIAN ACADEMY - Raleigh, NC 2003-2008
*Head Football Coach, Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach
*Director of Strength and Conditioning (Football)
*Chair of the Bible Department
*Senior Bible Teacher
*Chapel Speaker

FELLOWSHIP of CHRISTIAN ATHLETES - Raleigh, NC 2000-2003
*Area Representative (College Coordinator)
*Huddle Leader Coordinator
*Assistant Football Coach (Needham Broughton High School)
*Strength and Conditioning Consultant
*Chapel Speaker

BAYLEAF BAPTIST CHURCH - Raleigh, NC 1999-2000
*Sports/Activities Director
*Lead Teacher for College Class
*Chapel Speaker

PROVIDENCE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL of TEXAS - Dallas, TX 1995-1998
*History and Physical Education Teacher
*Head Coach (Soccer, Cross-Country, Track and Field)
*Chapel Speaker


HONORS
Winter Park Sports Hall of Fame (2013)
North Carolina High School Football AP Coach of the Year (2021)

FNF North Carolina Football Coach of the Year (2021)

High School OT Male Coach of the Year (2021)

CAP-6 Conference Coach of the Year (2023)

CAP-6 Conference Coach of the Year (2022)
CAP-6 Conference Coach of the Year (2021)
CAP-7 Conference Coach of the Year (2020)
CAP-7 Conference Coach of the Year (2018)
CAP-7 Conference Coach of the Year (2017)
Carolina Athletic Conference Coach of the Year (2012)
Carolina Athletic Conference Coach of the Year (2011)
North Raleigh Christian Academy Teacher of the Year (2007-2008)
Omicron Delta Kappa (National Leadership Honor Society)
National Honor Roll for Outstanding American Teachers
Who’s Who among America’s Teachers


PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
American Football Coaches Association (Member)
National Strength and Conditioning Association (CSCS*D, Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist with Distinction)
National Strength and Conditioning Association (RSCC*D, Registered Strength and Conditioning Coach with Distinction)
USA Weightlifting (USAW-2, Advanced Sports Performance Coach)
USA Football (Certified Coach)
USA Track & Field (Certified Coach)
Functional Movement Screen (FMS-1)
TRX Suspension Training Certification
TRX Functional Training Certification
National Federation of State High School Associations (Certified Coach)
North Carolina Coaches Association (Member)
North Carolina Football Coaches Association (Member)
Evangelical Training Association (Certified Teacher)