District makes Wright choice
It’s been more than 35 years since the Siloam Springs School District has had to hire a new head varsity volleyball coach, but I can say without a doubt in my mind that school officials got this one right. Or should I say, Wright? Joellen Wright, a loyal, dedicated assistant coach to longtime head coach Rose Cheek-Willis, was named head coach at last Thursday’s school board meeting, and there’s not one person who’s more deserving or qualified for that responsibility.
For those needing her qualifications, here are a few. Wright has been a school district employee for 22 years and been in the volleyball program for 17, including 13 as the varsity assistant.
She helped Siloam Springs win six straight state championships in Class 5A as Cheek-Willis’ assistant from 2004 to 2009.
But for the real selling point with Wright, go back to the 2013 season when she served as interim head coach while CheekWillis was out on medical leave and fighting colon cancer.
Wright assumed the head coach responsibilities, and with then-volunteer assistant and former Lady Panther Jessie ( Wade) Merrill, the two put the pieces together and guided the Lady Panthers to 22 wins and an 11-3 record and second-place finish in the 7A/6A-West Conference. Siloam Springs was the conference’s only Class 6A team, I might add.
At the sports department of NWA Media, it was an easy decision to name Wright the newspaper’s Big 7 Volleyball Coach of the Year for 2013, and that’s exactly what we did.
Cheek-Willis returned for the 2014 season, and Wright resumed her role as assistant coach, which she has continued to serve in the last three seasons.
But really, ever since that 2013 year, you knew she would eventually get her chance, and I’m happy to report now that she’s got it.
Here’s another thing, which in my mind, is just as important.
Wright is a terrific volleyball coach but an even better person. She is a great role model for these teenage girls to look up to, and she’ll represent Siloam Springs and our community in a positive way.
We’ll certainly miss Rose Cheek-Willis on the bench at volleyball games. I used to get a kick out of her stomping her feet and shouting at those girls, and her fiery demeanor on the sideline.
Wright will be different from her mentor, no doubt, but she’s earned the chance to do it her way — the Wright way.
Wright will inherit a talented group of players for the 2017 volleyball season next fall, and expectations, as they always are, will be high. Like statechampionship high. But I don’t think she would have it any other way. It’s been seven seasons now since the Lady Panthers won a state title, and I know Wright is as hungry as anyone to get back to the top.