Coach Willis Wright was bound and determined not to coach again after this past football season at South Panola but has found a new home on the Northwest Community College staff.

“No, I never thought I would coach at the college level,” Wright said in a Wednesday morning interview. “I guess I have just now matured enough to coach a college team,” he laughingly said.

After the fish had not been biting for a few weeks and he was weed eating and sweating, first year Northwest coach Ricky Woods showed up at his house.

“Coach Woods said, ‘You ready yet?’ I said, ‘I guess so,’” Wright said.

That was how Wright became a college coach after 39 years of coaching high school. He has been named the outside linebackers coach, but Wright said he is only part time and does not have a big responsibility.

Wright will join familiar names and faces on the Ranger squad. Coaching at Northwest this fall are his son Jack, offensive coordinator; former South Panola athletic director Ron Oakes, offensive line; former South Panola assistant coach Trenell Edwards, defensive backs; Danny Ray Cole of Batesville, strength; Blake Frazier, defensive coordinator and inside linebackers; and Scott Oakley, receivers.

Northwest will open the season on Thursday, August 28 against national champion Gulf Coast at 6:30 p.m.