March 30, 2023

HOUSTON, TX -- Langston’s Chris Wright is the recipient of the 2023 Jack Bennett Man of the Year Award.

Wright took over a program that was a 1-27 last season and 1-37 over the past two seasons. Under his guidance, the Lions finished an incredible 31-3 this season.

It’s one of the greatest single-season turnarounds in college basketball history.

“Last season Langston was 1-27. This season the Lions were 31-3. What else really needs to be said about the job Chris Wright has done,” said Joe Dwyer, President of CollegeInsider.com.  “It’s without question one of the best, if not the best, single-season turnaround in college basketball history, at any level. Chris Wright is an excellent coach and a quality individual.”

In hist first season, The Lions went 26-2 in the regular season, making history as the first HBCU to win the Sooner Athletic Conference regular season title and the conference tournament title.

Winning the SAC earned Langston a No. 2 seed in the NAIA National Tournament, where they would go on to post wins over Southern Oregon and Southwestern College, before falling to Georgetown KY in the round of 16.

Wright came to Langston after spending the previous four seasons as the head coach at Talladega College. During his tenure the Tornadoes have compiled a 106-25 record and reached the NAIA National Tournament in all four seasons.

The Jack Bennett Award, which represents winning with integrity, is named in honor of former legendary head coach at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

Bennett won five Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles, made five NCAA tournament appearances and won two national championships. He’s the program’s all-time winningest coach with a 200-56 record. In 34 seasons as head coach, he compiled a record of 480-175.

Note: Some of the content from the press release came directly from Langston University media releases.