The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Women's Basketball
- Title:
- Strength & Conditioning Coach
17th season at Texas
Todd Wright begins his 17th season as the strength and conditioning coach for the men’s basketball program at The University of Texas. The 44-year-old Wright, who enters his 21st year of association with Rick Barnes, is widely recognized as one of the elite coaches nationally in his field.
During his previous 16 years in Austin, the Longhorns have made 15 trips to the NCAA Tournament while posting a 382-166 (.697) record. UT also set a school record by recording 13 straight 20-win seasons from 1999-2000 through 2011-12.
Texas has made five “Sweet 16” showings during the last 13 years. Included in this 12-year stretch was a trip to the 2003 Final Four, marking the third time in school history and first since 1947 (a span of 56 years) that UT had advanced to the Final Four. Texas advanced to the “Elite Eight” in 2006 and 2008 and the “Sweet 16” in 2002 and 2004.
Texas has claimed three Big 12 Conference titles in Wright’s 16 seasons, including two in the past nine years (1999, 2006 and 2008). UT also has advanced to the “Elite Eight” of the NCAA tourney in two of the last nine years and three times in the last 12 seasons (2003, 2006 and 2008).
UT climbed to the top of both major national polls (Associated Press, USA Today Coaches) on Jan. 11, 2010, marking the first time in program history that the Horns had been the top-ranked team in the nation in either major poll. Texas held the top spot in both polls for a two-week stretch. UT set a school record for most wins in a season (31-7) in 2007-08. While using a starting rotation of four freshmen and a sophomore in 2006-07, the Horns posted a 25-10 mark and advanced to the NCAA Second Round. In 2005-06, Texas registered a 30-7 record and advanced to the NCAA “Elite Eight.”
Wright also has played a huge role in producing individual success. Texas is the only school in the country that can claim two National Player of the Year winners in the last 12 years, T.J. Ford (2003) and Kevin Durant (2007). UT has had four consensus first-team All-Americans during Wright’s time in Austin (Chris Mihm in 2000, T.J. Ford in 2003, Kevin Durant in 2007 and D.J. Augustin in 2008), and Augustin claimed the Bob Cousy Award as the nation’s top point guard in 2008.
Texas has had 16 players drafted in the 16 years under Wright, including 10 first-round selections and six lottery picks in Chris Mihm, T.J. Ford, LaMarcus Aldridge, Kevin Durant, D.J. Augustin and Tristan Thompson. Both Aldridge (2006) and Durant (2007) were selected as the No. 2 overall picks in their respective drafts. In fact, UT became the first school to have a Top Two pick in consecutive NBA Drafts since DePaul in 1981-82.
When Augustin was selected as the No. 9 pick by the Charlotte Bobcats in the 2008 NBA Draft, it completed quite a three-year run for the Longhorns at the Draft. Texas was the only school in the nation to have a Top 10 pick in the 2006, 2007 and 2008 NBA Drafts. In fact, UT became just the fourth school since 1985 (when the current draft lottery system was implemented) to produce a lottery pick in three consecutive years. Georgia Tech (1989-91), Duke (1992-95) and Connecticut (2004-06) previously accomplished the feat.
Three Longhorns heard their names called in the first round of the 2011 NBA Draft for the first time in school history. Tristan Thompson was selected with the No. 4 pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Jordan Hamilton was taken with the No. 26 pick by the Dallas Mavericks, and his rights were later traded to the Denver Nuggets. Cory Joseph was taken with the No. 29 pick by the San Antonio Spurs.
The 2011 Draft marked the second straight year and third time in school history that the Horns had three players selected in the same draft. UT also had three players selected during the 2010 NBA Draft. Avery Bradley was selected with the No. 19 pick by the Boston Celtics. Damion James was taken with the No. 24 pick by the Atlanta Hawks, and his rights were later traded to the New Jersey Nets. Dexter Pittman was chosen with the No. 32 pick (second selection in the second round) by the Miami Heat. Aldridge, P.J. Tucker (No. 35 pick by Toronto) and Daniel Gibson (No. 42 pick by Cleveland) were taken during the 2006 NBA Draft.
Wright came to Texas after spending five years at Clemson, including the last four under Barnes’ direction. He spent his first three years as a graduate assistant strength and conditioning coach, before becoming a full-time staff member prior to the 1996-97 season. During his time at Clemson, his strength, agility and conditioning programs helped Clemson earn a reputation as one of the best-conditioned teams in the country.
A native of Peabody, Mass., Wright earned his bachelor’s of science degree in health and fitness from Springfield College in 1993. He also worked as a strength and conditioning coach at Boston College in the spring of 1993 prior to his graduation.
Wright is a member of the National Strength and Conditioning Association and is a certified strength and conditioning specialist. He also is a Fellow of Applied Functional Science through the Gray Institute.
In the fall of 1997, Wright wrote a strength and conditioning chapter for basketball in the book, “Basketball for Dummies.” He also is a well-respected speaker in the field of strength and conditioning. Wright has spoken on the subject of “Vertical Core Training,” where he discussed training the core in the upright position, and he has presented on the subject of “Juhoplepsking,” where he discussed using ground reaction to enhance functional performance by jumping, hopping, leaping and skipping. Wright also recently has spoken on the subjects of functional density and the spherical model of training.
Wright and his wife, Kate, reside with their two daughters, Hannah Katherine (born June 10, 1999) and Abigail Margaret (Jan. 18, 2001) and son, Charles Austin (born May 25, 2004), in Austin.
