Former Putnam County High School football player and Greene County High School football assistant Damoio’n Wright was recognized as one of the top position coaches in the state of Georgia.
An Instagram account called “GAHSFootball, which covers high school sports in Georgia recently ran a poll. It was searching for the best assistant football coaches at each position in the state.
Wright, who is currently an assistant at Class 7A’s Grayson High School in Gwinnett County, was nominated as the top running backs coach in the poll, which was voted on by players and coaches.
Wright shared with the Lake Oconee News he’s honored to be recognized as one of the best in Georgia.
“It’s cool to get recognized by players and coaches as one of the top position assistants in the state at the running back position,” Wright said. “I am very blessed to have received such an honor.”
Wright’s other list of achievements includes helping Walnut Grove have its first winning season; being the youngest offensive coordinator in Class 6A at Alcovy; coaching the first 1,000-yard rusher in program history and being on a staff that led Johns Creek to its third-ever playoff appearance in; and being named a top coach in the state under the age of 30 by GA Football Scoop.
Wright is currently in his first season with Grayson, which is one of the top programs in the state, regardless of classification. His official title is the Rams’ run-game coordinator and co-offensive coordinator.
Wright’s career has been on the rise since he first started coaching back in 2014 at Walnut Grove High School. He’s quickly moved up the coaching ladder and has accomplished a lot in the process.
The Eatonton native has been at the big stage before in Class 6A although Grayson is his first 7A job.
“It’s been a good transition, but I mean, I am used to the big boy ball,” Wright said. “I was at a 6A school for so many years and it felt good coming back. For sure. It’s like a machine over here, man. We’ve got a great coaching staff, a lot of young guys with a lot of experience. So it has been great. We’ve also got a great head coach here at [Grayson]. The transition has been real easy.”
Wright’s first job in 2014 at Walnut Grove was under former Putnam County head coach Ben Reaves, who coached him while he was a War Eagle football player. He enjoyed his time under Reaves.
Wright attended Putnam County High School from 2009-13. He was on the football team as an offensive lineman and linebacker. Wright was a part of three playoff teams while he was a War Eagle.
Wright said Reaves greatly influenced his quest to become a coach after his college career was cut short due to injury. He started out at Itawamba Community College in Mississippi and ended up at Georgia Military College in Milledgeville.
“I saw where he was molding us into young men. He didn’t just see us as players. He saw his players as his own kids,” Wright said. “I pretty much got a [coaching] opportunity with him at Walnut Grove. He helped me grow so I could move up the food chain, which I actually did pretty quickly.”
Wright highlighted that growing up in Putnam County and now coaching in Gwinnett is vastly different.
“I love where I am from down there, but I’ve got more resources up here [in Gwinnett]. It’s a little bit more parent involvement, bigger caliber players, too,” Wright added. “Also, you get more TV time up here, man. You probably get the spotlight a little more because of those vast resources.”
Still, even though Wright is now in the public eye near the state’s capital coaching at the highest level, he enjoyed playing under the bright lights on Friday nights at Al Reaves for the War Eagles.
Wright explained that he learned a lot from playing in a small town such as Eatonton. He said that enjoyed how “everyone in the community” would come out to the stadium and watch the games.
“It was more family-oriented down there,” Wright stated. “It was different in a small town, which meant everyone in the community was going to be at the games. There wasn’t much to do in those small, country towns like up here [in Gwinnett] and I liked that. People still come to the games here, but [Grayson] isn’t shutting all of Gwinnett [County] shutting down. There’s a big difference.”
Wright hopes to become a head coach someday, however, he likes where’s currently at with the Rams under new head coach Santavious Bryant. Bryant is in his first season as a head coach.
Bryant was at Grayson from 2019-2021 as an assistant coach under former head coach Adam Carter, now at Lowndes County in south Georgia. Wright might taste some success with Grayson as Bryant was part of a Rams’ team that won the Class 7A state title in 2020.
“I actually had a couple of offers on the table, but it wasn’t the right time,” Wright said. “I’ve been interviewed for a head coaching job before, but right now, I want to be where my feet are at.”
Before be hiring at Grayson, Wright was at Washington County as its offensive coordinator in 2022. Two years ago, he was the running backs coach at Johns Creek at the 6A level. Wright also coached at Heritage (2019-20), Alcovy (201718), Greene County (201718), and Walnut Grove (2014-15).
Besides coaching, Wright was the Director of Football Operations for the Elite Raw Talent All-American Bowl from 2018-20. He worked for Rodney Williams, a former NFL player, and Georgia native.
One of his brothers, Arkiyus Wright, played at Greene County High School. He also just graduated this past May and is now enrolled at the University of the Cumberlands in Kentucky to play football.
“We’re a football family, but we don’t forget where we are from,” Wright said. “I also help out a lot of athletes in Lake Country such as the Frazitta brothers (Dom and Draco) at Morgan County. Those guys are pretty much like family to me. I’ve also helped out Antavious Elder from down there, as well as a few kids from Putnam and Greene, too. I like when the kids from down there reach out.”