George Wright Bio by his daughter - Wright former LB Poly Coach

Celebration of Life 12/10/05

December 8th, 2005

GEORGE WRIGHT

George was raised in the San Fernando Valley where he attended Birmingham High School and participated on 2 CIF Championship Swim teams. He attended college at Cal State Northridge majoring in Business. There he competed in Water Polo and Swimming and was selected as MVP (Swimming) in 1961.

After graduation with a B.S. in 1965, he entered the Navy and was commissioned in 1966. He served as communications officer on the destroyer USS SAMUEL N. MOORE for three years including two tours in Viet Nam.

Upon returning to civilian life he received his teaching credential from USC and began his teaching career in Long Beach in 1970. He taught at Jordan and Lakewood where he coached swimming and water polo before transferring to Poly in 1982. In 1985, he was asked to take over the Cross Country and Swim programs. He coached both sports before retiring from swimming in 1996.

George's Cross Country team won the CIF title in 1996, the schools first since 1943. The team went on to win again in 1997, 1998,1999 and 2000 to become the only Cross Country team to ever win 5 consecutive CIF Division 1 titles. The team was runner up in 2001 and 5th in 2002. Additionally, the team won State Championships in 1997, 1998 and 2000 to go along with 3 fourth place finishes in 1996, 2001 and 2002. The team has won 7 consecutive Moore league titles and is undefeated in dual meet competition since 1996.

George was honored by the Century Club as the 1996 Co-coach of the year along with Jerry Jaso and Terry Kennedy and the 1999 Coach of the year. He was also honored as the 1997 and 2000 CIF Cross Country Coach of the year and was a State CIF honor coach in 2001

Over the years, over 300 athletes have been exposed to the beauty of the Eastern Sierra through cross country training camps and senior swim ski trips.

George continues to enjoy competing in swimming, running and triathlons and has won 12 age group National Championships, 2 Ironman World Championships and 1 World International Distance Championship.

George and Barbara married 37 years ago and have two children. Their daughter Kelly teaches in Long Beach and son Michael is a student at CSU Chico. They have two grandchildren. The family enjoys skiing and backpacking in the Sierras.

Note on the "Celebration of Life"

Original note on George's Death 11/26

Sad News received this weekend - George Wright (above) former LB Poly Coach,
pictured above during Triathlon action for his "Runners High" team, and to the right with his LB Poly
squad from 2002, dies of heart attack while on bike ride with his club-mates Saturday November
26th in Santiago Canyon. George was 63, always the gentleman and loved by everyone!!
Our thoughts go to to his family and lovely wife Barbara - We hope to have info on services, etc.
George's squad won State Div I Boys in 1997-1998 and 2001

2002 Interview of George Wright as Coach of the Week

George was the kind of a guy that our final question/answer that interview told a lot about:
What advice would you have for new Coaches to Cross-Country? "Hang in there.
When I took over in 1985 I found no runners, no schedule, no uniforms.
We could not even field 5 runners in some races. Things can only get better in time."
Three State titles later and numerous other championships along the way--great legacy George!!