Legendary University of La Verne baseball and men's soccer coach, Dr. Owen Lee Wright, passed away earlier this year, after a hard-fought battle with lung cancer. He was 90.
Dr. Wright, a native of Bridgewater (Connecticut), was a four-year baseball letterman at Bridgewater College from 1954-1958, graduating with a degree in physical education. In 1961, he received a master's degree in physical education from the University of Illinois and culminated his academic accolades in 1971 with a Ph.D. in Physical Education from the University of Oregon.
In 1983, Dr. Wright joined the University of La Verne as the head coach of both the men's soccer and baseball teams. During his 15-year coaching tenure at the helm of the Green and Orange, Dr. Wright put his stamp on Leopard athletics by leading his men to multiple Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) championships in both sports – two with soccer, and six with baseball.
Assistant ULV Athletic Director Cres Gonzalez well remembers Dr. Wright's prowess on the soccer pitch. "Owen was a mentor, and someone I greatly admired. It was a privilege to watch his situational coaching style that led to him becoming one of the winningest coaches in Division III soccer, and the NCAA overall. But above all, Owen had a zest for competition, and for life. I had the pleasure of visiting him at his home in Oregon, where he warmly received my wife and me and made sure we had a good time. We fondly reminisced about his years at La Verne, and it was clear to me that Owen always carried La Verne close to his heart. He was a true 'Leo for Life'."
And while Dr. Wright led all his men to victory, his baseball teams took winning to the highest level.
In 1995, his 39-9 (21-0 SCIAC) Leopards captured the NCAA Division III Baseball Championship, and Dr. Wright was voted by his peers as the Division III National Coach of the Year. His 15-year Leopard journey produced eight Division III Baseball all-Americans while also generating 347 overall game wins, six SCIAC championships, four trips to the NCAA West Regional tournament, and two NCAA West Regional tournament title wins.
Head Baseball Coach Scott Winterburn looks forward to one day paying forward what Dr. Wright taught him. "The guys associated with baseball…Dan Drake, Ben Hines, Owen Wright, Bobby Lee, and others who played here…they've all been warm people. Inviting people. They make you feel welcome about working at La Verne and about doing your job. Owen was like that. Owen positively impacted the players he coached and the coaches he worked with. When I got here, he said hello, offered me congratulations, and told me that if I ever needed anything to give him a call. And every year after that he made a point to come by to say hello and check in with us. He showed you how to do it, and how to support the next guy. I know when I'm no longer coaching here at La Verne, I'll remember what he taught me, and I'll be sure to support the next coach. I always felt like those guys were behind what I am trying to do for the student-athletes here, and I'm grateful that Owen had that kind of impact on me."
Dr. Wright's impact as at the University of La Verne transcended coaching, with his positive influence felt by everyone with whom he interacted.
"As a brand-new, wet-behind-the-ears part-time assistant athletic trainer in fall of 1987, no one took more of an interest in my development as a Leopard than Coach Wright," said Dr. Paul Alvarez, University of La Verne Professor of Kinesiology and Athletic Training Program Clinical Coordinator. "He had a direct way of 'advising' me on how to act in the finest traditions of La Verne, not just athletics. For example, he made it a point of inviting me to attend Convocation, Baccalaureate, and Commencement - and it was clear I had better be there! In a similar manner, Owen also invited me to participate in noontime faculty/student volleyball games in the Old Gym. In doing so, I met lifelong faculty colleagues and adopted La Verne traditions as part of who I am now. I am eternally grateful."
Dr. Wright retired from coaching in 1998.
He was quoted that year in the ULV Campus Times saying, "I've always loved playing games, and I always thought if I could find somebody to pay me to play games, that I would do that. My mother often would say, 'I can't believe that anyone would pay you to do what you do,' in a joking way."
Dr. Wright's Celebration of Life will occur online this Friday, June 9th, at 1:30 PM PST. Please join us in celebrating his remarkable legacy by clicking THIS LINK.
