High School
- Winona High School 1959-1963
College
- Holmes Junior College – Goodman, MS – 1963-1965
- Delta State University – Cleveland, MS – 1965-1968
Coaching Career
OVERALL HIGH SCHOOL COACHING CAREER
- Record as head coach: 227-66-5
- Record as defensive coordinator: 74-1
- Head coach of 5 state championship teams: Starkville (1984); South Panola (1993); Greenville, AL (1987); North Delta Academy (2000 & 2001)
- Assistant coach on 4 state championship teams: South Panola (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006)
- Received over 20 Coach of the Year Awards
- Coached in 5 All-Star games in Mississippi & Alabama
- Coached in the Mississippi High School All-Star game on two occasions (1979 & 1982) ; also coached in MPSA All-Star Game (2000)
- Coached for both Alabama & Mississippi teams in Mississippi/Alabama All-Star Football Classic on two occasions: 1988 for Alabama; 1994 for Mississippi
- Helped create South Panola High School football dynasty
Shelby High, Shelby, MS – 1968 to 1969
- Assistant football coach, head baseball coach
Drew High, Drew, MS – 1969 to 1970
- Assistant football coach, head track coach, head coach of junior high basketball team
Drew High, Drew, MS – 1970 to 1972
- Head football & baseball coach
- Football team compiled record of 6-13-1
Carroll Academy, Carrollton, MS – 1972
- Head football coach
- Team record of 6-3
Saltillo High, Saltillo, MS – 1973 to 1980
- Head football coach – 65-18-1
- Winningest football coach in the history of the school
- Teams won 4 consecutive Tombigbee Conference titles
- Named Tombigbee Conference Coach of the Year, 1977, 1979
- Served as assistant coach in 1979 Mississippi High School All-Star game
- 1978 team finished undefeated, Tombigbee Conference Champions
- Received Mississippi Legislature resolution, 1979
- Received Certificate of Merit, Jackson Touchdown Club, 1979
- Assistant coach for North All-Stars in 1979 Mississippi High School All-Star game
Head football coach, Starkville High, 1981 to 1986
- Starkville had an overall record of 51-10-2 during his tenure
- Led Yellowjackets to 4 district titles, 4 North State crowns, and two Class 5A state championships
- 1984 team finished 11-1-1; district, North State, & Class 5A State Champions, defeated Callaway 26-0 in title game at Ras Branch Stadium, Holmes CC
- Named Jackson Daily News/Clarion Ledger Coach of the Year, 1984
- Named MAC High School Football Coach of the Year, 1984
- Named District 4 Coach of the Year, 1984
- WCBI radio Golden Triangle Coach of the Year
- 1981, 1983, & 1985 teams were rated no. 2 in state
- 1981 team finished 12-1 and won district, South Little Ten Conference, North State
- Named District 4 and South Little Ten Coach of the Year, 1981
- 1982 team was 7-3, runner-up in district
- 1983 squad was 10-3-1, district & North State champions
- 1985 team finished 11-2, district and North State champions
- Received Starkville, MS, Chamber of Commerce Resolution, 1985
- Received Mississippi Legislature resolution, 1984 & 1985
- Received Key to the City, Starkville, MS, 1985
- Received MAC Coaches State Championship Award, 1985
- Received WCBI TV Certificate of Achievement, 1984
- Head coach of the North in 1982 Mississippi High School All-Star game
Head football coach, Greenville, AL, High, 1986 to 1989
- Guided his team to 1987 Class 5A state championship with record of 13-2; team started 1-2, but finished 13-2 and 21-20 double overtime win over Russellville High earned the school’s first state title since 1953
- His Greenville teams were 26-8 during his tenure
- Named Birmingham Touchdown Club Coach of the Year, 1987
- Received Certificate of Appreciation, City of Greenville, AL, 1989
- Named Coach of the Year, 1988, Toyota Coach of the Year Clinics, Class 5A Alabama football
- 1986 team finished 3-5; 1988 squad had 12-1 record
- Team had winning streak of 24 straight games, record still stands as of 2015
- Assistant coach for Alabama All-Stars in Mississippi/Alabama All-Star Football Classic, June 18, 1988
- Received state champion coaches award from AHSAA, 1987
- Received resolution/commendation from Butler County Board of Education, 1987
- Received proclamation of commendation from Butler County, AL, County Commission, 1987
- Received proclamation from Alabama Governor Guy Hunt, 1987
- 1986 team finished 3-5
Head football coach, Nettleton High, 1989 to 1991
- Led Tigers football team to 10-2 record in 1989 & 9-2 mark in 1990
- Paced Tigers to the state championship game of Class 2A
- Named District 2 Coach of the Year, 1989
- Member of Coaching Staff of the Year, Division 2A, 1989
Head football coach, South Panola High, Batesville, MS 1991 to 1993
- 1993 squad finished 15-0, district, North State, Class 5A state champions; rated the no. 1 high school football team in the state; team ranked no. 13 in national high school standings in USA Today; defeated Warren Central 42-28 for state title at Memorial Stadium, Jackson, MS
- Received MAC Championship Coach Award, 1993-94
- Named MAC High School Football Coach of the Year, 1993
- Named Mississippi Sportswriters Coach of the Year, 1993
- Received MAC Service Award, July 30, 1993
- MAC Coaching Staff of the Year, 1993
- Selected as 1992 Chickasaw Conference Coach of the Year
- Received Award of Excellence two times from District Board of Trustees for division, 1992 & 1993
- 1991 team finished 5-5
- 1992 team finished 10-2, district & Chickasaw Conference titles
- Offensive coordinator for Mississippi team in Mississippi/Alabama All-Star Classic, June 18, 1994
- Received MAC 25 Year Service Award, 1993
Athletic Director, South Panola High, Batesville, MS, 1993 to 1995
Head football coach, North Delta Academy, Batesville, MS, 1999 to 2001
- Led team to two Class 3A state championships in 2000 & 2001
- Named MPSA Coach of the Year, Class 3A, 1999 & 2001
- Received Mississippi Legislature Resolution, 2001
- 1999 team finished 10-2 district & Class 3A State Champions
- 2000 team finished 12-1, district, North State, Class 3A State Champions
- 2001 squad finished 10-4, district & North State champions
- Assistant coach in 2000 MPSA All-Star game
Defensive coordinator, South Panola High, Batesville, MS, 2001 to 2006
- Team was 75-0 at one time and ranked by Sports Illustrated as 3rd in the nation
- Team won five consecutive Class 5A state championships: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007—4 during his tenure
- 2003 team finished 15-0, no. 1 team in the state, no. 9 national ranking by USA Today; only the 4th team in 5A history to complete a perfect season
- Member of MAC Coaching Staff of the Year, 2002
Recognitions
- Inducted into MAC Coaches Hall of Fame, July 17, 1998
- Football stadium at Saltillo High named “Willis Wright Stadium” in his honor, 2011