Giles O. Wright

Giles O. Wright
Biographical details
Born(1899-11-13)November 13, 1899
Kansas, U.S.
DiedJuly 22, 1974(1974-07-22) (aged 74)
Tyler, Texas, U.S.
Playing career
Football
1919–1921Baker
PositionHalfback
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1932Sumner HS (KS) (assistant)
1934–1941Xavier (LA) (assistant)
1942–1946Xavier (LA)
1947–1948Booker T. Washington HS (LA) (assistant)
1949Texas College (assistant)
1956Texas College
Basketball
1938–1946Xavier (LA)
?Texas College
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1923–?Kansas Vocational
1947–1949Booker T. Washington HS (LA)
?Texas College
Head coaching record
Overall12–23–2 (football)

Giles Owens "Unc" Wright (November 13, 1899 – July 22, 1974) was an American football, basketball, and track coach, college athletics administrator, and educator. He served as the head football coach at Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans, from 1942 to 1946, and Texas College in Tyler, Texas, for one season, in 1956.

Wright graduated from high school in Baldwin, Kansas, in 1918.[1] He attended Baker University, in Baldwin, where he played football alongside his brother, Ted A. Wright.[2]

In 1922, Wright was hired by George R. Smith College in Sedalia, Missouri, to teach history, pedagogy, and athletics.[3] The following year, he moved to Kansas Industrial and Educational Institute—later known as Kansas Technical Institute—in Topeka, Kansas, as athletic director.[4] In 1932, Wright coached football at Sumner High School in Kansas City, Kansas, as an assistant to head coach Alexander T. Edwards.[5]

After earning a Master of Arts degree from the University of Michigan, Wright joined his brother, Ted, at Xavier, in 1935, as physical director and assistant coach.[6][7] He was the head basketball coach at Xavier from 1938 to 1946, compiling a record of 124–41.[8] He resigned from his post at Xavier in December 1946.[9] In 1949, Wright was hired by Texas College to serve as the first assistant football coach under Fred T. Long.[10]

Wright died on July 22, 1974, at a hospital in Tyler, after suffering a stroke the prior day.[11][12]

Head coaching record

Football

Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs
Xavier Gold Rush (Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) (1942–1946)
1942 Xavier 3–62–3T–7th
1943 Xavier 0–4–10–27th
1944 Xavier 3–50–2
1945 No team—World War II
1946 Xavier 4–21–1T–6th
Xavier: 10–17–13–8
Texas College Steers (Southwestern Athletic Conference) (1956)
1956 Texas College 2–6–10–5–1T–6th
Texas College: 2–6–10–5–1
Total:12–23–2

References

  1. ↑ "Baccalaureate Services". The Baldwin Ledger. Baldwin, Kansas. April 19, 1918. p. 1. Retrieved May 6, 2026 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  2. ↑ "Baker Gridironers Given An Ovation". The Baker Orange. Baldwin, Kansas. November 21, 1921. p. 3. Retrieved May 6, 2026 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  3. ↑ "Giles Wright to Teach". The Baldwin Ledger. Baldwin, Kansas. September 15, 1922. p. 1. Retrieved May 6, 2026 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  4. ↑ "[untitled]". The Baldwin Ledger. Baldwin, Kansas. August 31, 1923. p. 8. Retrieved May 6, 2026 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  5. ↑ "Lincoln And Sumner Prep For Big Tilt". Kansas City Call. Kansas City, Missouri. October 21, 1932. p. 10. Retrieved May 6, 2026 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  6. ↑ "Xavier Begins Term Tuesday". The New Orleans Item. New Orleans, Louisiana. September 5, 1935. p. 17. Retrieved May 6, 2026 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  7. ↑ "Giles Wright Drills Xavier". Pittsburgh Courier. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. September 12, 1935. p. 5, section 2. Retrieved May 6, 2026 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  8. ↑ "Men's Basketball All-Time Wins and Losses". Xavier University of Louisiana. Retrieved May 6, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Giles Wright Resigns From Xavier University". The Louisiana Weekly. New Orleans, Louisiana. December 14, 1946. p. 1. Retrieved May 6, 2026 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  10. ↑ "Giles Wright Joins Texas College Staff". Journal and Guide. Norfolk, Virginia. July 23, 1949. p. 13. Retrieved May 6, 2026 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  11. ↑ "'Unc' Wright Services Set". Tyler Morning Telegraph. Tyler, Texas. July 25, 1974. p. 2. Retrieved May 6, 2026 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  12. ↑ "Coach Giles Wright Dies In Tyler, Texas". The Louisiana Weekly. New Orleans, Louisiana. August 3, 1974. p. 16. Retrieved May 6, 2026 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
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