FAU offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Brian Wright watches over his quarterbacks in spring practice (Owl Access File Photo)
Wright finds right fit
Meet The New Staff: FAU offensive coordinator Brian Wright is excited about the opportunity to recruit in-state players for his up-tempo spread offense.
Originally published on
6/22/2012
by
Marcus Nelson
BOCA RATON - When Brian Wright was the offensive coordinator at Montana State he directed an offense which benefits greatly from speedy players at the skill positions.
So when new FAU coach Carl Pelini called Wright about the Owls' offensive coordinator position, Wright thought about the players he would be recruiting in Florida and the impact they could make on his offense before accepting the offer.
“It was in a place where I felt we could recruit good quality student-athletes into an up-tempo spread offense,” Wright said.
With the ability to recruit home-grown players who can fit in his offense, Wright is excited about the future of the program.
“This is a program that has won before and I believe It can win again,” said Wright, FAU's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. “I think the potential is here to build and bring back a winning tradition.”
Wright developed his offensive philosophy at Youngstown State, where he was the Penguins' offensive coordinator from 2005-09 and at Montana State where he was offensive coordinator from 2010-11.
Wright's version of the spread offense focuses on a balance of being able to run and throw the ball.
“I believe you have to do both,” Wright said. “We should not be one-dimensional and we want to be able to have defenses guessing. In my experience there are games when you need to be able to run and games when you need to be able to throw. In order to be able to do those things when called upon, you have to be good at both.”
Wright's ability to adapt was one of the biggest reasons Pelini brought him to FAU.
"I wanted to see a guy who had a philosophy – a framework if you will - and then within that framework be able to be flexible enough to take advantage of the type of team he had,” Pelini said. “Even though he had a special scheme or framework for his offense he was able to take advantage of the talent they had in any particular year and change the emphasis of that offense.”
And with a spring under his belt, Wright believes he can do the same at FAU.
“We did see some good things in the the spring, but what I saw most was guys that were hungry and want to win and get better,” Wright said. “Our guys on offense had no idea what to expect as far as the up-tempo goes. I think we will get a better evaluation of that in camp.”
OwlAccess Managing Editor Chuck King contrubuted to this report