Tom Wright, a native of Trotwood, Ohio, has enjoyed success at BGSU as both an athlete and a coach. The 2001-02 academic
year marked his 30th with the Falcon track and field program.
As an athlete, Wright was a three-time All-American, and was part of the Falcons' top mile relay team in school history. The mark
of 3:07.5, set in 1966, still stands as the school record. Wright was a member of mile relay teams that captured the MAC title
twice, setting a conference record in 1966, and placing in the top six at the NCAA Championships in both 1965 and 1966. He also
was a MAC champion in the 440-yard dash.
Wright, who came to BGSU on a combination football/track scholarship, played three years of football for Falcon coach Doyt Perry.
Wright earned both his bachelor's (1966) and master's (1967) degrees from BGSU, and obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Utah
in 1973.
He served as an assistant football and head track coach at Dayton Wayne High School, and as head track coach at the University of
Illinois-Chicago Circle, before returning to Bowling Green in 1974.
Wright spent seven years as an assistant coach under Mel Brodt, before succeeding Brodt as head coach of the men's track and field
program in 1980. He spent 10 years in that role, before returning to an assistant-coaching role. Wright has coached nine All-Americans
and 18 MAC champions in his tenure.
In addition to his coaching duties, Wright remains an assistant professor in the School of Family and Consumer Sciences. He and his
wife, Shelly, reside in Bowling Green with their daughter, Rylee. Wright also has two grown sons, P.J., who coached track at the
University of Akron, and Todd, who was an All-MAC football player at Ball State University.
(Information on this page courtesy bgsufalcons.com press release,
July 8, 2002.)