CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – “At Montgomery Central, we have a ‘get it done’ mentality and culture,” said new Montgomery Central High School Head Coach Corey Wright, who knows firsthand about the success, culture and atmosphere that has taken place around the football program.
Montgomery Central announced this week the appointment of Wright as the new head coach after an extensive hiring process. Wright has been a part of the Indians’ coaching staff since the 2019-20 season, helping contribute to an overall record of 19-12. Wright was initially hired as the running backs coach, and he served as a wrestling coach for the Indians in 2018.
The program has performed well above .500 in two out of the three seasons since Wright joined the staff. To understand how the team will build off their success heading into the 2022-23 season, Wright answered a series of questions from Clarksville Now.
Leadership philosophy
Question: How would you describe your leadership philosophy and style as a coach?
Answer: My leadership philosophy is to lead by example and to be the best model of a leader. I want to set an image that my players can follow on and off the field. As a coach I am able to teach, encourage and prepare young people for life through football.
Q: From a leadership standpoint, what did you learn from your time with Coach Jeff Tomlinson, and how will that help you transition into this new position?
A: I watched Coach Tomlinson build a culture that allowed this team to win on the field, and I hope to continue building off that.
Going into 2022-23 season
Q: Do you see your offensive and defensive schemes changing heading into the 2022-23 season?
A: One thing I do not want to do is “reinvent the wheel.” Offensively, we have had success with running the ball, which has led to controlling the clock throughout games. Defensively, we ran a 3-5-3 defense with proven success.
Q: The Indians are losing a lot of production on the defensive side of the ball due to the number of players graduating – specifically, the team’s leader in total tackles, tackles for a loss, and sacks in Casen Cunningham. Who do you expect to step up as a defensive leader this upcoming season?
A: We had a special group of guys on defense, and one of the juniors that started on that defense is Layton Payne. I expect Payne, who is an upcoming senior, to step up as a defensive leader for us as well as others.
Key Payne stats from last year:
| Category | Total | Team Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Total Tackles | 59 | 6th |
| Tackles for a Loss | 4 | T-4th |
| Sacks | 5 | 2nd |
Q: Looking at the offensive side, the team will have their top two rushers returning in Kade Davis and Andrew White. Can you speak on what the duo will mean to the overall offensive production, and their impact as leaders on the team?
A: Kade Davis and Andrew White are the leaders of our offense and overall team. Both have earned the respect from the team around them, the community and opponents. Both lead by example academically and in the weight room as well.
Q: How do you plan to build off the success that the program has built here going into the 2022-23 season as head coach for the Indians?
A: At Montgomery Central, we have a “get it done” mentality and culture. We are trending in the right direction, which is evidence of the hard work and dedication that our kids and community have put in.