Alabama A&M officials confirmed Wednesday that assistant men’s basketball coach James Wright has died.
Head coach Willie Hayes and athletic director Bryan Hicks broke the news to the team Wednesday evening, the school said in a news release.
“We ask that you pray for Coach Wright’s family and keep them in your thoughts,” Hicks said.
One of our beloved coaches, Mr. James Wright, has passed. Under the leadership of Head Coach Willie Hayes, Coach Wright served as an Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach for the Alabama A&M University Bulldogs and was an integral part of the program. Circumstances surrounding his death are unknown at this time. The University asks that you keep the family of Mr. Wright, as well as his fellow coaches and the men’s basketball team in your prayers. Grief counselors have been made available to the players and staff.
According to Wright’s bio on the school’s athletic website, he joined the program after serving as the coach, president and general manager of the AAU basketball team Rise & Shine from 1993-2004.
Wright, 46, played on Jackson State basketball team in the early 1990s, with former NBA player Lindsey Hunter.
