Teaching Life Skills Through Sports

The Coach

Joey Wright

Teaching Life Skills Through Sport

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From 2013-2020, he had been the Head Coach of the Australian NBL basketball team, Adelaide 36ers, based in Adelaide.

For that club, he recruits both national and import players, facilitates contract negotiations for all team members, develops weekly practice plans and game strategies, supervises, trains and motivates fifteen players, manages four assistant coaches, team managers and strength and conditioning staff and acts as team liaison with media, club sponsors and local community groups. He lifted the Adelaide 36ers’ performance from last place to second place in first season and was two-time Coach of the Month.

From 2012 to 2013, he was High Performance Coach, Queensland Basketball, where he developed and administered training programs for elite level basketball athletes, facilitated state level basketball development camps, directed state coaches in development of practice plans, game strategies and training programs.

From 2009 to 2011 he was Head Coach for the Australian NBL basketball team, Gold Coast Blaze, Gold Coast, Queensland. He recruited players for NBL Division 1 and 2 teams, supervised two assistant coaches and all training staff, team liaison with media and club sponsors, developed weekly game strategies and practice plans. He led the team to a third place finish, the highest in the team’s history and received Coach of the Year Nomination.

From 2003 to 2008 he was Head Coach for the Australian NBL basketball team, Brisbane Bullets, Brisbane, Australia. He supervised players, staff and development players, prepared daily practice plans and weekly game strategies, administered weekly individual workouts, implemented systematic recruitment of potential players. The team was NBL Champions in 2007, and he was twice Coach of the Year, 2003 and 2007. He led the team to a record setting of 21 consecutive wins and was the winning coach in the NBL All-Star Game in 2007, as well as being five-time Coach of the Month.

Joey’s playing experience includes the Geelong Supercats, (Australian NBL), 1994-1996; Denver Nuggets Camp (United States NBA) 1994; APOEL (CYP-Division A) 1993-1994; Indiana Pacers Camp (NBA) 1993; Presto Ice Cream Kings (PHI-PBA) 1992; San Antonio Spurs ET Camp (NBA) 1992; Louisville/Memphis/Pensacola (GBA) 1991-92; drafted to the Phoenix Suns (NBA) in the 1991 NBA Draft; University of Texas (NCAA-Div. 1) 1988-91; Drake University (NCAA-Div. 1) 1986-87.

His accolades include: NBL Finals 2014-2015; NBL Coach of the Month 2015; NBL Finals 2013-2014 second Place, two-time Coach of the Month 2013-2014; Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee, Hammond, Indiana, USA 2011; Coach of the Year, National Basketball League, Australia, Brisbane Bullets 2007; NBL Champion, Brisbane Bullets, Australia 2006-2007; Winning Coach of the NBL All-Star Game 2007; Panelist, Sports and Recreation, Queensland, Australia 2006-2008; successive championship series appearances, Brisbane Bullets (NBL, Australia) 2005-2007; five-time Coach of the Month NBL, Australia, 2003-2008; Coach of the Year, NBL, Australia, Brisbane Bullets, 2003; Final Four, Regents School of Austin (TAPPS) 2001-2002; SBL Championship, Austin Cyclones, 1997-9898; SBL Draft Director 1997-1998; Most Valuable Player, Geelong Supercats (NBL, Australia) 1994-1995; League Champion, APOEL (CYP-Division A) 1993-1994; All-Star Global Basketball Association 1991-1992; NBA second round draft pick, Phoenix Suns, 1991; Elite Eight, NCAA Tournament, University of Texas 1990; Member of 3-Guard historic “BMW Scoring Machine” of University of Texas, 1989-1990; Scored 46 points to tie for third overall, all-time single game scoring record at University of Texas 1989; University of Texas starting point guard 1988-1991.