Les Wright

FCHS Faculty/Staff 1967-1996

Q: Can you describe your path to becoming AD? Was it a career goal long before you took the job?

LES: I went from Borden High School (1958) to Indiana University, earning my bachelor’s degree (education) in 1962, with one goal: to teach high school biology. I never quite got there. In 1967, Floyd Central opened. By then, I had five years’ experience as a junior high science teacher in Madison, and I had my master’s degree (also IU). I was hired to teach junior high science at FC. I also cut my teeth in coaching as an assistant to Joe Cerqueira (football) and to Joe Hinton (basketball). After three years, I was asked to succeed Jack Johnson as FC Athletic Director.

I hardly knew what the job was! My duties spanned 24 boys’ teams in grades 7 to 12, plus two girls’ teams (both varsity only). There were also varsity and JV cheerleaders. I had the same teaching load in my first year as AD and no administrative assistant.

Q: How did high school sports change during your tenure as AD?

LES: Title IX changed everything in 1972. The IHSAA caught up by 1974 and what had been two sports for girls became nine. Floyd Central began a program for students interested in becoming athletic trainers, now in its 50th year (involving both male and female students since 1981). And the nearly “omni-victorious” (national level) Dazzlers began during my era.

Q: What aspects of your job would surprise the public?

LES: The AD is a CFO and a COO and “almost a CEO”. How is that true? Well… the school board, our principals, and the NAFCS administration keep us (mostly) in our place and protect us from many executive matters. Most likely, the public has very little awareness of how an athletic department is a lean business unit running literally on shoestrings. We certainly both wish that someone could control the cost of a football helmet!

Q: How did your career impact your family life?

LES: The successes of teams and individual athletes are great – – but yes, some days are tough. The hours are long. You have to view them through the right lens. There are so many joys that can brighten the worst of times. One reward I never expected is this: having a son in an athletic administrative position (with the NCAA). To date, we are the only father-son FC Hall of Fame inductees (L.J. Wright, FCHS ’86, 2017 Hall of Fame inductee). I believe that the NAHS Hall of Fame has three such duos: Willmans, Chapalas and Renshaws.

Q: Looking back at your career, were there specific individuals or things that left a lasting impact on you?

LES: I could never properly distill down the names of coaches, students, athletic trainers, teachers, and staff. So, I’d like to salute the profession itself. Two organizations, the IIAAA (Indiana Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association) and its national counterpart (NIAAA) have been very important in my career. The IIAAA was formed in 1971, the same year that I became the AD. In 1978, its members elected me president. It was the same year that NIAAA was created (from a smaller, less extensive group). The IIAAA has gone on to be the leading AD association across the entire USA. In 2010, I was humbled to have the honor of induction into the NIAAA Hall of Fame. These two organizations have provided a vital and professional career home to me and to so many great friends who are members. I’ve been lucky to remain active in both since I retired. I continue to chair the NIAAA Retired Athletic Directors committee.

Read the entire December 2022 Legacy Ledger (Issue 28).

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