Jody Wright - Football Coach - Murray State University Athletics

Coach Jody Wright Press Conference_Nico Yantko_Bob Jackson

Photo by: David Eaton-Murray State Athletics

Jody Wright

Title:
Head Coach
Phone:
(270) 809-6800

JODY WRIGHT - HEAD FOOTBALL COACH
Hometown	Carrollton, Ala.
Alma Mater	Jacksonville State (2005)
Spouse	Meredith
Children	Thomas, Wellesley, Landon
CAREER EXPERIENCE
Year	School, Position
Present	Murray State Head Coach
2022-23	South Carolina, Assistant Coach/TE
2021	New York Giants, Offensive Assistant/Running Backs
2020	New York Giants, Defensive Assistant/Linebackers
2019	Cleveland Browns, Offensive Assistant/Running Backs
2018	UAB, Assistant Head Coach/Run Game Coordinator/OL
2015-17	Alabama, Director of Player Personnel
2014	UAB, Assistant Head Coach/RB/Recruiting Coordinator
2013	Jacksonville State, Passing Game Coordinator/TE
2011-12	Alabama, Offensive Analyst
2010	Alabama, Graduate Assistant
2009	Mississippi State, Assistant AD/Football Operations
2006-08	Mississippi State, Offensive Graduate Assistant
2005	Mississippi State, Volunteer Coach
2002-04	Jacksonville State, Student Assistant
BOWL/POSTSEASON EXPERIENCE
Year	Bowl/Postseason
2022	Gator Bowl
2018	Boca Raton Bowl
2018	CFB National Championship
2018	Sugar Bowl
2017	CFB National Championship
2016	Peach Bowl
2016	CFB National Championship
2015	Cotton Bowl
2013	FCS Playoffs Quarterfinals
2013	BCS National Championship
2012	BCS National Championship
2011	Capital One Bowl
2007	Liberty Bowl
2004	FCS Playoffs First Round
2003	FCS Playoffs First Round

Regarded as one of the top recruiters and talent evaluators in the nation and boasting an extensive coaching pedigree, Jody Wright has been hired as the 20th head football coach of the Murray State Racers, it was announced on Wednesday.

He is in his second season as Racers' head coach in 2025 after coming over to the Racers from South Carolina where he was tight ends coach for two seasons for head coach Shane Beamer.

Wright’s resume is unrivaled in the coaching profession, highlighted by two stints under legendary head coach Nick Saban and working with other major names in the coaching profession including Shane Beamer, Lane Kiffin, Billy Napier, Kirby Smart, Sylvester Croom, Bill Clark, and Joe Judge, among others.

During the 2023 season at South Carolina, he coached tight end Trey Knox to Second Team All-SEC honors after Knox finished second on the team with 37 receptions for 312 yards and a pair of touchdowns. That same year, Wright helped lead the charge in putting together one of the top recruiting classes in USC history, ranking seventh in the SEC and 17^th nationally.

In his first season at USC, Wright had a quartet of tight ends in Jaheim Bell, Austin Stogner, Nate Adkins and Traevon Kenion, who all had productive seasons. Bell, who spent part of the season at running back, led the unit with 25 catches, while Stogner (20) and Adkins (13) had double-digit receptions.

Wright joined the Gamecocks staff after spending the previous two seasons (2020-21) in the NFL with the New York Giants, where he served on the Giants’ staff as a defensive assistant coach working with the linebackers and as an offensive assistant with the running backs under head coach Joe Judge in 2021. Prior to his stint with the Giants, Wright spent one year (2019) with the Cleveland Browns as an offensive assistant working with the running backs.

He coached a plethora of talented running backs at the professional level, including Saquon Barkley and Nick Chubb, both of which had exceptional seasons under Wright’s tutelage.

Prior to his time in the NFL, he served as assistant head coach, running game coordinator and offensive line coach at UAB in 2018. That season, the Blazers posted a school record 11 wins that season under head coach Bill Clark en route to a Conference USA Championship and a victory in the Cheribundi Boca Raton bowl, the Blazers’ first bowl victory in program history.

Wright’s first stint at UAB came in 2014, when he worked as the Blazers’ assistant head coach and running backs coach in 2014. The Blazers rushed for 2,637 yards and 17 touchdowns, an average of 219.8 yards rushing per game, as UAB (6-6) become bowl eligible for the first time since 2004.

From 2015-17, Wright served as the Director of Player Personnel under Nick Saban at Alabama. The Crimson Tide posted a 41-3 mark during that three-year stretch and won two national championships. Wright’s responsibilities included the organization of all recruiting and personnel efforts, where he was instrumental in the Crimson Tide putting together the No. 1 signing class in all three recruiting cycles.

That three-year stretch marked Wright’s second tour of duty at Alabama. Prior to that, he worked as a graduate assistant in 2010 and an offensive analyst in 2011-12, when the Crimson Tide won back-to-back national titles.

He served as the tight end coach passing game and recruiting coordinator at Jacksonville State in 2013. The Gamecocks advanced to the third round of the FCS playoffs in 2013, finishing with a record of 11-4. JSU ranked second in the Ohio Valley Conference in total offense (442 yards per game) and scoring offense (35.2 ppg).

Wright began his coaching career as a student assistant at JSU in 2002 and was part of a Gamecock program that won the 2003 and 2004 Ohio Valley Conference Championships.

He spent the next five seasons (2005-09) at Mississippi State University, where he worked as an offensive graduate assistant and eventually rose to the title of Director of Football Operations. He earned his master’s degree from MSU in 2009.

Wright played collegiately at Jacksonville State, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in 2005.

A native of Carrollton, Alabama, Wright was an all-state running back and member of three undefeated state championship teams at Pickens Academy (Carrollton, Ala.), where he played for his father, Lynn Wright, who won nine state football championships in the state of Alabama over the course of his storied career

His older brother, Josh, has won four state championships in Alabama and is currently the head coach at Tuscaloosa Academy, while his younger brother, Jonathan, is the head coach at Bessemer Academy.

Jody and his wife, Meredith, have three children, Thomas, Wellesley and Landon.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING
Nick Saban – Head Coach, University of Alabama
“Jody was a tremendous asset to our organization during his time in Tuscaloosa, and we are excited to see him get this well-deserved opportunity. Murray State is getting an excellent football coach who knows the college game and comes from an outstanding football family. He has a great personality with a lot of enthusiasm and energy, which will be reflected on the football field and in recruiting. I know he will work extremely hard to help develop his players to be successful both on and off the field. We wish Jody and his entire family the best at Murray State.”

Shane Beamer – Head Coach, University of South Carolina
“I’ve known Jody Wright for 20 years since we first worked together at Mississippi State. He’s a fantastic person, coach and recruiter. He and his wife, Meredith, made our program better the last two years. Murray, Kentucky, is a special place to me and I know Jody will do amazing things for Racer Football and the entire community.”

Billy Napier – Head Coach, University of Florida
“Hiring Jody Wright is a great move by Director of Athletics Nico Yantko at Murray State. Jody is an absolute professional and has a great way with people. His leadership, relationships and experience will make an immediate impact for the Racers. I’m so happy for Jody and his family. This is a well-deserved opportunity and I am confident he will make the most of it.”

Saquon Barkley – Running Back, New York Giants
“Coach Wright is a great teacher of the game of football. He is going push you to be the best version of yourself every day. He is such a positive person that cares about you on and off the field.”