Amber Wright enters her 10th season with the University of South Florida softball coaching staff. After eight years as USF softball’s assistant coach, Wright was promoted to Eriksen’s top assistant on Sept. 11, 2006, after the departure of former Associate Head Coach Stacey Heintz.
“I’m excited to be elevated into the first assistant position and continue the progress of the USF softball program toward the ultimate goal of a Women’s College World Series championship,” Wright said. “It is an honor to work for my alma mater under Ken and to follow in the footsteps of my mentor and friend, Stacey Heintz.”
Wright will continue her role of analyzing the team’s hitting and working with the infield. In addition to her recruiting duties, she will take on the additional responsibilities of managing the team’s travel and being the liaison for academic services.
A former Bull herself, Wright had a stellar playing career at USF from 1994-97 and now looks to continue her successes off the field by guiding younger players with her knowledge and experience of the game.
"Amber brings a serene, calm, confident leadership style to our staff that seems to really bode well with the players," coach Ken Eriksen said. "She possesses a keen game sense in that she can pull a player aside between innings and supply the exact pick-me-up speech that particular player needs."
Having helped USF to a 151-65 overall mark and two conference titles (Southern Atlantic Softball Alliance '96, '97) from 1994-97, Wright was a mainstay in the infield under both former head coach Hildred Deese and current head coach Eriksen. She was a member of the 1996 and 1997 Bulls squad that made back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances--the program's first two ever.
Bringing with her the motivational style that she displayed as a member of the 1994-97 USF squad, Wright's experience in the professional ranks also lends to her success as a coach.
In 1997, Wright signed with the Tampa Bay Firestix of the Women's Professional Softball League, becoming the first softball player in USF history to be drafted. She spent the 1998 season with the Orlando Wahoos, where she was instrumental in the team's WPF Championship and, for her efforts, was a member of the all-star team. In 1999, she was traded back to the Firestix and helped lead the team to its first WPF Championship.
Wright earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from USF in 1998 and received her master’s degree in guidance and counseling from her alma mater in 2005.
