Coach Ray Wright Makes an Immediate Impact

Immediate Impact

Ray Wright is Building Strength and Community at St. Andrew's

By Jeff McCrary, Athletic Director, K-12

The mission of the St. Andrew’s Episcopal School Physical Education and Athletics

Department is to build the foundation for a lifetime of physical fitness and well-being within a positive environment that empowers each student to reach their full potential.

As the Director of Sports Performance, newly-hired Ray Wright has the ability to help so many of our students to do just as our mission inspires us. He has quickly started working with in-season boys and girls’ teams, off-season workouts in the morning and afternoon with various groups, and fitness class students during the day.

Coach Wright undeniably brings next-level ideas, programming, technology, and more to St. Andrew’s. However, it is the relationships that he has forged with athletes and coaches alike that might be even more impressive and impactful. His ability to relate with students of all ages and experience levels is immediately obvious.

However, rather than going on about Coach Wright, I will let our coaches share their feedback, as well as a couple of student-athlete testimonials:

“Coach Wright has been an amazing addition to the

St. Andrew's community. He

"has been working with the Varsity Girls Basketball team this season and is such a great coach. He challenges the kids and sets high expectations, but is also extremely relatable, personable, and fun!” From what I have observed, his training techniques will not only improve athlete performance but also aid in injury prevention. I am really excited to have them here in our school. The players love him. He has rapidly built relationships and earned respect. He has done a phenomenal job in transition, and I know, long-term, he is going to play a big role in the future success of our athletic teams.”

Rick Reetz, Football Program Director

“Coach Wright has been an amazing addition to our Department. He is an expert in his field, and can connect with athletes like a true professional coach. In just the

Kristen

Benjamin, Associate

AD and Girls

Basketball Program Director

“Coach Wright has had an immediate impact on our student-athletes. His experience has allowed us to advance our strength and conditioning program quickly. From a sports science and conditioning standpoint, he is far advanced of what we, and a lot of schools, have been doing in our programs for a long, long time. two months he has been at St. Andrew’s, we have seen the excitement for being in the weight room grow exponentially, and look to carry that momentum into the offseason and beyond.”

Trey Morin, Boys Basketball Program Director

Coach Wright assists athletes training in the weight room.

“Coach Wright has challenged and " motivated me to constantly work harder and push myself. Somehow he’s made me look forward to some of the toughest workouts and exercises I’ve ever done. I’m happy to have him here at St. Andrew’s.”

Maddie Warren (’23),

Varsity Girls Basketball Player Of his time at St. Andrew’s so far, this is what Coach Wright had to say: “The last two months here at St. Andrew’s have been an absolute blast. The faculty and students have been welcoming and very helpful. The athletes are working extremely hard and are hungry to improve. The unwavering support and unselfishness of the sport coaches has been impressive. A vast majority of our student athletes are multi-sport athletes; therefore, it is important to have ‘in-season’ training to ensure that the athlete is as strong and conditioned as possible for the next sport. The ability to have robust year round ‘off-season’ and ‘in-season’ programs will be instrumental in our success.”

"Coach Wright has already impacted the Field Hockey program in a great way. He communicates with our SAS athletes extremely well, and shares a vision that motivates and inspires them to get into the weight room and work hard. Even though we lift early in the morning, I have not heard anything but positive comments about how Coach Wright makes lifting fun for our athletes, while achieving results that will help them on the field." Katherine Bowie, Associate AD and Field Hockey Program Director "Coach Wright is very charismatic and easy to work with. He has always been super generous with his time and offers to work with students and athletes in the morning, during their free periods, and in the afternoons. I love working with him because I know he will keep me honest to give me the best workout I can get!” Bella Benke (’24), Varsity Cross Country, Girls Soccer, and Track & Field Athlete

“Coach Wright is the most motivational person I have ever worked with. He pushes me to become a better athlete and carves me into a harder worker everytime I step in the SAS weightroom.” Will May (’25), Football, Golf, and Track & Field Athlete