California State University, Bakersfield's wrestling program has added to its coaching staff as Head Coach Luke Smith announced the hiring of Coby Wright as an assistant coach.

A Roadrunner alumni, former All-American and retired Kern County Fire Department (KCFD) captain, Wright brings a wealth of knowledge as well as coaching experience to the Bakersfield wrestling team.

"We are excited to have Coby back on staff," Smith said. "He brings a lot of passion for this program. He was part of that great '96 team that finished third and is still the only California team to win a Division I NCAA team trophy. He has an inspiring underdog story like many others that have accomplished great things here. I know he'll take that same passion and pride for Cal State Bakersfield and use it to help build that #BakersfieldGrit mentality."

Bakersfield's wrestling history is rich with success and championships littered throughout. Wright is a living representation of that legacy, having been a state champion at Bakersfield High School, as well as a two-time Pac-10 champion and NCAA Division I All-American for Cal State Bakersfield.

Wright's accomplishments on the mat were remarkable, but he also excelled in the classroom, earning Academic All-American honors twice in his collegiate career. Combining the grit and drive he learned in the wrestling room with a passion for academic excellence, Wright graduated from CSUB and began pursuing a career in public service.

"CSUB wrestling changed my life," he said. "It built character in me and I learned the principles to succeed in life. I'm thankful for the opportunity to be here with Coach Smith. We have similar backgrounds and I believe in his coaching philosophy 100%. My goal is obviously success on the mat but what I really value is the positive influence I can have on our athletes. The coaches I had when I wrestled here were great leaders and I want to be the same for these athletes."

Wright joined the KCFD in 1999 and was soon promoted to an engineer. Just a few years later, Wright became a captain of KCFD, a role he served in for the following 17 years. With over 20 years of dedicated service to the Kern County community, Wright now returns to his alma mater to coach once again.

From 2000 to 2015, Wright also worked as an assistant coach for CSUB, both as a volunteer and in a paid position at times. His commitment to CSUB wrestling and his community has never wavered.

"I was thrilled when Luke told me he wanted to bring Coby back into the program in a coaching capacity," said Sarah Tuohy, the wrestling team's sport supervisor. "With Bakersfield roots and strong connection to the school as decorated student-athlete himself, Coby embodies our commitment to fostering local talent and building community spirit. Who better to teach our student-athletes about 'Bakersfield Grit' than a person who helped establish that culture here while he was a student-athlete?"

Head Coach Smith and Assistant Coach Wright are hard at work preparing the CSUB wrestling team for the 2023-24 season. Smith has been recruiting heavily since the NCAA Championships ended this past spring and the `Runners are excited to get back to work this fall.

Visit gorunners.com for information about the newcomers to the CSUB wrestling program. Consider following @CSUBwrestling on Instagram and Twitter for the most up-to-date information and behind-the-scenes access.