Coach Wright Selected To CCSU Athletics Hall Of Fame
NEW BRITAIN, Conn. - University of Saint Joseph (USJ) head men's soccer coach Paul Wright has been elected to the Alumni Athletics Hall of Fame at his alma mater, Central Connecticut State University (CCSU), it was announced back in April of 2020 by CCSU. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the induction ceremony was postponed, and is now set to take place this evening, October 6, 2022 in Alumni Hall on the campus of CCSU. Wright will officially be part of the Blue Devils seven-member Class of 2020.
CCSU's Hall of Fame Class of 2020 includes, Jamie Crowley (women's swimming), Laura Duncan '05 (women's soccer), Aaron Radden '13 (track and field), Ted Stoneburner '92 (football), Bob Wittneben '72 (football/wrestling), Paul Wright '99 (men's soccer) and the 1987 wrestling team.
As a student-athlete at CCSU, Wright was a standout on the soccer field, scoring 23 goals during the 1996 season which is the second-highest single-season total in program history. A two-time All-New England and All-Mid Continent Conference selection during his career, Wright tied an NCAA single-game record with eight goals and 17 points in a game against UMES in 1995. He scored 14 goals during each of his freshman and junior seasons, which are among the top 10 single-season goal totals at CCSU and his 50 points in 1996 is the third-highest single-season total.
Following graduation, Wright went on to play professionally in both the U.S. and Spain. He played for three seasons with the Western Massachusetts Pioneers of the USL D-3 Pro League, where he was a member of the 1999 championship team. He also played for the Philadelphia Kixx of the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) in 2002, helping them reach the league finals. Wright also owns professional playing experience abroad with Real Balonpedica of the Spanish "Segunda B" league.
Wright later returned back to CCSU and was an assistant coach at his alma mater from 2006 to 2012. In 2007, Wright helped the Blue Devils complete the most successful season in any sport in the university's history, when the Blue Devils won the Northeast Conference (NEC) title and advanced to the NCAA Division I Sweet 16.
While at USJ, Wright has now successfully completed the first four seasons of the program's history and is in the midst of his fifth season at the helm of the USJ men's soccer program since the institution went fully coeducational in the fall of 2018. The program, which he assembled from scratch, has taken the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) by storm and has produced winning seasons every year since its inception.
Through three official seasons (2020 season canceled), Wright and the Blue Jays have complied an overall record of 32-16-4 (.654) and made the GNAC Postseason Tournament all three years. Additionally, Wright has coached 11 student-athletes to All-GNAC honors headlined by forward DeAnte Anderson (Bloomfield, Conn.) who has been tabbed to the All-GNAC First Team in 2019 and 2021.
Through the first nine matches of the 2022 season, the Blue Jays are off to another great start under Wright's tutelage and are 6-2-1 overall with a 3-1-1 record in GNAC play.
About the CCSU Alumni Athletics Hall of Fame
The CCSU Alumni Athletics Hall of Fame recognizes and honors former outstanding CCSU student-athletes for their contributions and achievements in athletics. Nominees, in general, must be of good character and worthy of the award, and individuals, who, through their actions, have shown support for the ideals of the University. Nominees shall have represented CCSU in a positive manner both on and off the playing arena. Including the Class of 2020, there are 161 members of the CCSU Alumni Athletics Hall of Fame, and five teams.
Follow USJ Athletics
For the latest on University of Saint Joseph Athletics, follow the Blue Jays on social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
Fans can also download the USJ Front Row Mobile App and subscribe to our Newsletter and Text Alerts. #FearTheFlock #GoBlueJays