Wright retires from Porters Chapel

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Three days after coaching Porters Chapel Academy to a baseball state championship, Randy Wright said Monday he was retiring from the school.

Wright, who won 301 baseball games and three Mississippi Private School Association Class A championships in 14 seasons at PCA, said he is stepping aside to focus on his family’s restaurant business and to spend more time with his wife and two children.

Wright, 38, also went 52-13 in five seasons as PCA’s football coach. His winning percentage of .800 is the second-highest all-time among Warren County coaches who coached at least 50 games. His teams reached the playoffs all five seasons, and the MPSA semifinals three times.

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“It’s an opportunity to be home more with my wife and kids. It’s an opportunity to be involved in my children’s extracurricular activities,” Wright said. He and his wife, Jessica, have two children — 4-year-old son, Jack, and 8-year-old daughter, Kaylee Claiborne. “Even when I was home during football season I was watching game film. So I might as well not have been there.”

Wright said he and his family were aware of speculation there were additional reasons for his departure from the school, but said they did not play a role. Dr. Calvin Masterson, board chairman of the private school, indicated Wright, who was not a classroom teacher and was paid a stipend to coach, had informed board members of his plans on Sunday.

“There never was any word from the board or anyone else about firing Randy,” Masterson said. “From our standpoint this was all Randy’s decision and not a school decision.”

Wright said he considered retirement several times in recent years. After the 2006 season, when the team won its last baseball championship, he said privately that he’d leave in 2007. He ultimately returned for two more years.

The health of Wright’s father, Randy Sr., played a big part in his decision to step away now. The elder Wright had heart surgery in 2008, and his son said it is time for him to play a bigger role at the popular barbecue restaurant his family owns.

“My dad’s health is at a point where he needs me more at the restaurant.  Goldie’s is what pays my bills, and I had to do my part to make this the best business it can be,” Wright said. “I’ve been fortunate that my dad has allowed me to coach for 14 years. Now it’s my turn to work my schedule around his and work for him full-time for a living.”

Wright announced his decision to his team Monday afternoon. The players, coaches and several administration and board members had gathered to pick out championship rings for the baseball team. Several players walked out of the meeting with teary eyes, but others said they saw it coming.

“It hit me. I thought it was coming, but I wasn’t for sure. We’re going to be sad about it,” sophomore pitcher Montana McDaniel said. “We’re going to try and make the best of it with a new coach.”

Masterson said the board would try to find a coach who is adept at both football and baseball. In the meantime, assistants Robbie Simms, Chris Busby and Bill Fleming will fill in. They — or whoever ends up with the job — will have a tough task. Fourteen seniors off of the 23-man football roster graduated, and there are only 11 varsity players returning.

“We’ve had some really good conversations with some well-known coaches around the state,” Masterson said. “For football, we’re going to move as soon as possible. But we’re not going to get somebody we feel is not fully qualified.”

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Contact Ernest Bowker at ebowker@vicksburgpost.com