Following a string of record-breaking seasons, Brian Wright is back for his fourth year as the Rockets’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
In his three seasons with the Rockets, Wright has helped guide offenses that have been among the best in the Mid-American Conference while boasting four NFL draft picks.
In his debut season at Toledo in 2016, Wright guided one of the nation’s most explosive offenses, helping the Rockets attain a 9-4 record and a berth in the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl. Toledo shattered school records for total offense (517.8 ypg) and passing offense (322.8 ypg). Under Wright’s guidance, Toledo finished the 2016 season in the top 10 nationally in five offensive team categories: passing efficiency (second-183.3); third-down conversions (fifth-51.1%); total offense (seventh-517.8); red-zone offense (ninth-92.0%); and passing offense (10th-322.8). Toledo led the MAC in total offense, passing offense, and passing efficiency.
Individually, Wright coached seven All-MAC offensive players in 2016, including six players on the first team. Quarterback Logan Woodside led the nation with 45 touchdown passes, shattering the UT record of 29 reached twice by all-time Rocket great Bruce Gradkowski. Woodside also set the school record with 4,129 passing yards, was second nationally in passing efficiency (183.3) and was named a “contender” for the 2016 Heisman Trophy by the Heisman Trophy Trust.
Also in 2016, senior running back Kareem Hunt led the MAC in rushing with 1,475 yards. Hunt earned North Outstanding Player Honors in the Senior Bowl and was later taken in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft by Kansas City. Senior first-team tight end Michael Roberts led all tight ends nationally with 16 touchdown receptions, was named first-team All-America and was selected in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions.
In 2017, Wright helped guide a Toledo offense that drove the Rockets to a MAC Championship. UT finished with an 11-3 record and defeated Akron in the MAC Championship Game. Toledo ranked first in the MAC in total offense and passing efficiency, and second in scoring offense and passing offense. For his efforts, Wright was a nominee for the Broyles Award, given annual to the nation’s top assistant coach.
Wright’s offense had five players make the All-MAC first-team in 2017, led by the record-smashing Woodside. Woodside was the MAC Offensive Player of the Year, the MVP of the MAC Championship Game and the recipient of the Vern Smith Award, given annually to the top player in the MAC. Woodside departed UT as the school’s all-time leader in passing yards, touchdown passes and passing efficiency. Woodside, who was named an official “contender” for the Heisman Trophy by the Heisman Trophy Trust in both his junior and senior seasons, was selected in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals.
Other record-setters mentored by Wright include a pair of two-time, first-team All-MAC wide receivers, Diontae Johnson and Cody Thompson, who both completed their illustrious careers in 2018. Johnson, who set a school record with 1,278 receiving yards to go along with 13 TD catches as a sophomore in 2017, was selected in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft by Pittsburgh. Thompson ended his career as Toledo’s all-time leader in touchdown receptions (30) and was second in receiving yards (3,312). A third receiver who finished his career in 2018, Jon’Vea Johnson, twice earned All-MAC honors.
As a team in 2018, Toledo led the MAC in scoring (40.4) and was second in total offense (443.8).
Prior to coming to Toledo, Wright coached at Florida Atlantic for four seasons as the Owls’ offensive coordinator. Wright stepped in as interim head coach for the final four games of the 2013 season, leading the Owls to four consecutive victories and bowl eligibility (6-6) for the first time since 2008. Sophomore quarterback Jaquez Johnson earned Conference USA Newcomer of the Year and set the then-school record for total offense.
Before his stint at Florida Atlantic, Wright spent two seasons at Montana State as the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach. Wright’s two Bobcat offenses, led by dynamic quarterback DeNarius McGhee, averaged 440.6 yards per game, the most productive two-year span in school history. After leading the Big Sky Conference in scoring offense, total offense and passing offense in 2010, Wright’s unit topped the league in scoring offense and total offense in Big Sky games in 2011. Wright handed the reins, in his first season at MSU, to redshirt freshman quarterback McGhee, who was named Big Sky Offensive Co-MVP, a first at MSU since 1984, and NCAA I-AA Freshman of the Year by one media outlet.
Before heading west to Montana State, Wright served nine years at perennial FCS power Youngstown State. Wright joined the Penguins’ staff in 2001 as quarterbacks coach, also working as offensive coordinator from 2005-09. Wright helped engineer record-setting offenses at Youngstown State, with the team winning two Gateway Conference championships and advancing to the 2006 FCS Final Four.
Wright began his college coaching career at Walsh (Ohio) University as a graduate assistant in 1995-96. After a year as a graduate assistant at YSU in which the Penguins won the NCAA Division I-AA national title, Wright returned to Walsh in 1998 where he first began working with wide receivers and was then elevated to offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, where he served until 2000.
Wright attended Wooster High School in Wooster, Ohio, and earned his bachelor’s degree in business from the College of Wooster in 1994 and his master’s degree in education from Walsh in 1998. He and his wife Laura have three children, Jake (15), Marielle (13) and Joseph (10).
Brian Wright’s Coaching Experience
2016-19 Toledo – Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
2014-15 Florida Atlantic - Associate Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
2013 Florida Atlantic - Interim Head Coach (final four games)
2012-13 Florida Atlantic - Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
2010-11 Montana State - Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
2005-09 Youngstown State - Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
2004-07 Youngstown State - Recruiting Coordinator
2003 Youngstown State - Quarterbacks/Wide Receivers
2001-02 Youngstown State - Quarterbacks
2000 Walsh - Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
1999 Walsh - Passing Game Coordinator/Quarterbacks/Co-Special Teams Coordinator
1998 Walsh - Passing Game Coordinator/Wide Receivers
1997 Youngstown State - Graduate Assistant
1995-96 Walsh - Graduate Assistant
