FB: Former Warren Central coach Kevin Wright takes over at Carmel

Former Warren Central football coach Kevin Wright, who led the Warriors to three straight Class 5A football state championships from 2003-2005, has been named head coach at Carmel.

A Sheridan native and son of legendary Sheridan football coach Larry “Bud” Wright, Kevin Wright replaces the departed Mo Moriarity, who left to become as assistant coach at Indiana University after leading the Greyhounds to four consecutive 5A state title games. 

“To get to that level year in and year out, it’s not something that happens a lot,” Wright told the Indianapolis Star. “Once you’ve been there, that becomes their goal.”

Growing up, I don’t know that we had the same type of athletes (at Sheridan) every single year, but we had that mentality, and that’s the mentality they have at Carmel. They have tremendous tradition.”

After leaving Warren Central, Wright was coach at Tulsa (OK) Union for one year before heading to his alma mater, Western Kentucky, to serve as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for two seasons. He spent last year as an assistant coach and assistant principal at Heritage Christian.

The latest move to Carmel means that Wright and his family, who reside in Cicero, can stay close to home. His wife is an assistant principal at Hamilton Heights.

“All of our relatives live (in Hamilton County), and that makes it neat,” Wright told the Star. “We really weren’t willing to sacrifice a 4-year-old and an 8-year-old in moving again, and Carmel was the perfect opportunity. 

“To be able to have (Elizabeth) continue with her career, we really didn’t want to pick up and move our family again. Something was going to have to open up that made sense to me, and I just feel blessed that things have worked out the way they have.”

Carmel athletic director Jim Inskeep said that Wright’s experience and success were keys in the decision.

“He has very high expectations of himself, and those are a good fit for what we’re trying to accomplish at our school and within our football program,” Inskeep told the Star.

Wright’s record is 134-52 in 16 seasons, with nine sectional or district championships, nine conference titles to go with the trio of 5A crowns at Warren Central. He played for his father, helping Sheridan to capture the Class A state championship in 1980.

Kevin Hutchins, who led Monrovia to the Class 2A state championship game last season, has been named the new coach at Mooresville. Hutchins will take over for Mark Bless, who will replace 5A Avon’s retired Dave Shelbourne after 15 seasons at the Pioneers’ helm.

“We’re really excited to have him,” Mooresville AD Mike Mossbrucker told the Indianapolis Star. “We just felt that when it got down to it, Kevin was going to be the best overall fit. I feel like he really handles himself well, in a positive manner.”

“He’s got a tough guy to follow. We feel that Mark was a class guy and a good person and we hated to lose him, (but) we think that we’ve replaced him with someone who has those similar characteristics.”

Hutchins, who was 28-11 in three seasons at Monrovia, also coached at Indianapolis Howe Academy.