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By David Boyce  |  Press Conference

MARYVILLE, Mo. - After two years as a student-coach at Cortland State in New York, Rich Wright jumped in his car in the fall of 1992 and headed west of the Mississippi River for the first time in his life.
 
He wondered what he was doing as he headed to Dana College in Blair, Neb., to continue his education and pursue his dream of being a football coach.
 
From a community standpoint, there was no change for him. Wright grew up in a small town of 3,500 people in upstate New York.
 
"There were more cows in our county than people," Wright said.
 
Wright found the ground fertile at Dana College, allowing him to sprout and grow as a young coach. He credits former Dana football coach Jim Krueger for mentoring him.
 
It was Krueger who put in a word to Northwest Missouri coaching staff to give Wright an opportunity to be a graduate assistant for the Bearcats in 1995 and 1996.
 
During those two years, Wright would sometimes dream with the other graduate assistants about one day becoming the head coach at Northwest.
 
"We were witnessed to something special that was happening and we knew it," Wright said. "That dream turned into a goal and today that goal is reality.
 
"I am blessed beyond belief to have this opportunity. It is one that is going to be one of the highlights of my life."
 
A little over two decades after first arriving at Northwest, Rich Wright stood up Monday in front of a filled room at the J.W. Student Union and humbly accepted the standing ovation when he was introduced as the new head football coach at Northwest.
 
"That meant the world to me," Wright said. "It is the semester break and being on a Monday in the middle of the day, I had no idea there would be the number of people who were here."
 
The Northwest and Maryville community already have a good idea what they are getting in Wright.
 
For the past six seasons, Wright guided one of the fiercest defensive units in all of Division II as the defensive coordinator. 
 
"If you ask anybody, even people on D2 message board, who has the best defense in Division II," said Northwest athletic director Mel Tjeerdsma, "there would be no question that it is Northwest Missouri State and that is because of coach Wright and his leadership."
 
The opportunity to become head coach arose when Adam Dorrel, who guided Northwest to three national titles in the last four years, turned that success into a new coaching opportunity. Three hours earlier on Monday, Dorrel gave a press conference at Abilene Christian as that school's new head football coach.
 
The transition from Dorrel to Wright couldn't have been smoother and keeps in line with the family culture at Northwest.
 
"We are flat out thrilled," Northwest President, Dr. John Jasinski said. "What a great day for Northwest. From a decision-making point of view, this is about the easiest you can ever make because you have the premier program and a premier coach in waiting. We are thrilled for the university and obviously for the football program. Community, family, academics, that is Rich Wright."
 
Indeed. Wright came close to tears on a couple occasion early in his speech about how grateful he is to be the next coach.
 
So many wonderful moments had already occurred in Wright's two-decade journey to this point, and many of them right in Maryville.
 
A wedding ring on his left hand and the 2015 national championship ring on his right hand are two symbols that signifies Wright's passion for his family and football.
 
Wright met his wife, a Northwest alum, when he was a graduate assistant.
 
"I proposed to her at a Northwest home playoff game. Bobby Bearcat actually gave her the ring," Wright said.
 
Somebody call Disney. Dreams come true in Maryville.
 
After he married Sarah Kriz Wright, they traveled the Midwest together for nearly a decade before returning to Northwest in 2004 as strength coach and special teams coordinator.
 
They spent a year and a half at Dakota State in Madison, S.D. and then spent a season at Central Methodist College in Fayette, Mo. From there, they went to William Penn in Oskaloosa, Iowa for a season and then the next four years at St. Ambrose in Davenport, Iowa as the defensive coordinator.
 
When they returned to Maryville in 2004, they had an addition to their family, their two-week old daughter, Grace. Since then, they added another daughter, Kate, who has spent her entire life in Maryville.
 
"I want to thank my wife, Sarah and daughters Grace and Kate," Wright said at the press conference. "Often their sacrifices in this profession gets overlooked. I appreciate your support and your love. And to Sarah, of all people, I wouldn't be here without you. Thank you."
 
Sarah Kriz Wright beamed with pride as her husband talked about what it means to be part of the Northwest football program and Maryville community. She is thankful those years will continue.
 
"I am absolutely thrilled," Sarah said. "It is a dream come true for him. It is a wonderful opportunity for our family to remain in this community and being around people who have become our family.
 
"We are so fortunate. When we moved back here in 2004, we had never been any other place longer than four years so when he started his 13^th season this year, it really hit us that this is our home and where we belong. It is such a blessing to be able remain here where he can continue to work on his dream."
 
Wright epitomizes what it takes to make a dream become reality: hard work. That trait is ingrained in him and he instills it in his players. There are no short cuts to success under Wright's watch.
 
In fact, he joked that defensive players under him will say that when you ask what time it is, Wright will suggest build a clock.
 
"We will not measure our success in wins and losses," Wright said. "Instead, we will immerse ourselves in the process. We will continue to focus on the details, the little things that allow greatness to happen.
 
"We will graduate our players, give back to the community and be positive ambassadors for the university. We will stress family and strive for excellence on and off the field in everything we do because that is the Bearcat Way."
 
It is that passion that rubs off on the players and helps them perform at the highest level. In the last four seasons, Northwest has put together some of the best defenses that has ever been seen in the MIAA.
 
"I am excited for him," said defensive end Collin Bevins. "He has been my coach for four years. I couldn't be happier for him. He deserves it. He put his heart and soul into this program and it is awesome to see him successful like this."
 
Wright credits many people for being in the position he is in today. He gave a heartfelt thanks to Krueger, Tjeerdsma and Scott Bostwick.
 
"Jim gave me my first chance to delve into the coaching profession," Wright said. "He gave me a lot responsibilities. I treasure those memories and the things I was able to do. I carry those lessons with me.
 
"Coach Mel Tjeerdsma gave this kid two opportunities that I will be forever grateful. He trusted me in 1995 to come here as a grad assistant football coach for two seasons and hired me back in 2004. Coach T, I love you and thank you for everything you have ever done for myself and my family."
 
When Wright got to Bostwick, he choked up. Wright still wears a red baseball cap during football games to honor Bostwick, who passed away in June, 2011 of a heart attack. After 17 years as a defensive coach under Tjeerdsma, Bostwick's dream of becoming head coach at Northwest finally came true.
 
Unfortunately, the was only able to lead spring football and help recruit the 2011 class as head coach.
 
"I have a feeling he is watching today, and I think he is smiling," Wright said. "To Scott and his family, I love you."
 
Those words meant a lot to Chad Bostwick, the linebackers coach and the younger brother of Scott.
 
"Scott was a mentor to me," Bostwick said. "He was the reason why I got started in coaching. All of us on staff have the same feelings about Scott and what he meant to all of us in our own individual way. He had that kind of touch on people. I know he made a big imprint on coach Wright and his career and reason he was able to come back as a fulltime coach."
 
Wright heard applause when he announced all the fulltime assistants are remaining at Northwest for next season. Besides Bostwick, the others are offensive coordinator Charlie Flohr, wide receivers coach Joel Osborn and defensive backs coach Brandon Clayton.
 
"It is great," Clayton said. "Our continuity continues and we can build on what coach Dorrel left behind. He did an awesome job in his six years. I am forever grateful for him hiring me."
 
Clayton said Wright's attention to detail is what makes him a great coach. He likes his energy and the way he motivates people around him.
 
Tjeerdsma sees the same things. He added that Wright and Dorrel are the two best coaches he has seen who teach.
 
For Tjeerdsma, the transition from Dorrel to Wright was natural.
 
"I am a firm believer that things will work out the way they are supposed to work out, and I think in this situation, with coach Dorrel taking that job, that it worked out perfectly for  our staff to stay here," Tjeerdsma said. "Part of it is just the culture. This is a tough place to leave and that helps us."
 
Like Dorrel, who had the daunting task of filling the shoes of Tjeerdsma and Bostwick, now Wright has the tough chore of replacing a coach that went 76-8 and guided the Bearcats to three national titles in four years.
 
One of the final words of advice Dorrel gave Wright before beginning his new journey was simply to be yourself.
 
And that is exactly the way Wright conducted himself Monday at his first press conference as the head football coach at Northwest Missouri State.
 
"I am just one part of the overall puzzle," Wright said. "Head coach is only as good as the assistants that surrounds him. To the Maryville community, former players, faculty and staff, parents, fans and alums, your outpouring of love and support has been overwhelming. My staff and I will work tirelessly for our football program.
 
"I am going to be me. I am pretty fiery. I am emotional. I wear everything on my sleeve. I tell kids that I recruit that the first time you screw up, I am going to be the first person to be there, and if you do something good, I will probably be the first person that is going to jump in your arms and hug you. I am passionate about what I do. I am loud. I run around. I have a lot of energy.
 
"Each day you wake up, the Lord gave you a day. It can be a good day or bad, but you choose the outcome of it. If you are around me, hopefully it will be a good one."