Carroll C. Wright Jr.

Carroll C. Wright, Jr. passed away on Friday, January 17, 2025, in Haywood County, North Carolina. He was born December 24, 1936, in Swain County, North Carolina, leaving behind a legacy filled with remarkable accomplishments and cherished memories.

Carroll was the head coach at five high school football programs in a hall-of-fame career that spanned parts of four decades. Four of his schools were located in the majestic Western North Carolina mountains. He was WNC Coach of the Year three times at three schools and was the state’s head coach in the 1992 Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas.

Before he became a mentor of young men, Wright enjoyed a three-sport playing career at Swain County High School in Bryson City, NC, where he played on 12 varsity teams and is in that school’s athletic hall-of-fame. He then played three sports in two years at Mars Hill College (now University), earning all-conference honors twice, and finished his athletic career as a two-sport standout at Tennessee Tech. After graduating in 1960 he was hired as a teacher and assistant football coach at his high school alma mater- on a two-man staff with his former coach, Norris Jones-and was elevated to head coach in 1962. His third team at Swain was the school’s first football team to make the state playoffs, reaching the West 2-A title game in 1964.

After six years at Swain County ( 1962-1967), Wright left for the South Carolina Piedmont and led Hartsville High School to the state 4-A final in 1968. Missing the mountains and the region’s drier climate, he moved again in 1974 to be the head coach at Brevard High School in Brevard, North Carolina, guiding the Blue Devils to 50 wins in six years (1974 – 1979). Brevard had undefeated regular seasons in 1977 and 1978 and reached the 3-A semifinals both times.

Wright was the head coach at West Henderson High School near Hendersonville, NC from 1981 to 1987. The school carried the label “graveyard of coaches” prior to his arrival, but the Falcons enjoyed 57 wins and two unbeaten regular seasons in seven years with Coach Wright. His 1984 squad reached the state 3 -A semifinal. Carroll was honored with being inducted into the Swain County Hall of Fame, Mars Hill Hall of Fame, and the North Carolina High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame, WNC Sports Hall of Fame and was awarded the honor of being selected as Western North Carolina Football Coach of the Year at Brevard, West Henderson, and Pisgah High Schools.

Wright’s last stop as a head coach and history teacher was at Pisgah High School (1988-1993) in Canton, NC. The Black Bears had not had a winning record in five years, but won at least eight games in each of his six seasons (53 wins) at Pisgah, and made the 3-A playoffs every fall, reaching the second round five times and losing twice by a point.

His football teams won 13 conference championships and never lost more than three consecutive games at any time. There were only 3 losing seasons among his 31 football teams at five schools. In his last regular season game (1^st year in Canton) the Black Bears snapped a 10-game losing skid to arch-rival Tuscola High School 1988 (19-0).

He was preceded in death by his loving parents, Carroll Wright, Sr. and Juanita Thomas Wright; his first wife; Joan Robinson, mother of his children; his daughter, Alesia Kay Wright; three grandchildren, Lindsey, Courtney, and Graham; and a sister, Kay Killebrew..

Surviving are his loving wife of 33 years, Barbara Medlin Wright; his children, Carroll Wright, III of Asheville, Richard M. Wright of Steamboat Landing, Colorado; a stepson, Dr. Brian M. Johnson ( Pam) of New Orleans, LA; 7 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-grandchild; 2 step-grandchildren; and a brother-in-law, Charles Killebrew. He also leaves behind special friends, Skip Holland and the Holland family, Bobbie Medlin and Dick Rogers.      

Though Carroll has left this earthly realm, his memory will forever reside within the hearts of those who loved him. May he rest in eternal peace, knowing that his life made a profound impact on all who had the privilege of knowing him. Throughout his journey in life, he touched numerous lives through his teaching and coaching. He dedicated an impressive 35 years of his professional career in teaching and coaching young people before his retirement in 1993. He was a mentor to all his students and players. Carroll will be remembered forever and deeply missed each and every day

We will gather to remember Carroll and celebrate the remarkable life he lived. Receiving of friends will be held at Lake Junaluska Baptist Church in Clyde on Saturday, January 25, 2025, from 11:00 am until 2:00 pm.  Following the visitation a graveside service will be held at Swain County Memorial Park in Bryson City at 3:00 pm. Honored to be serving as pallbearers are Bob Marr (Swain) Lewin Brown (Hartsville, SC), Rick Robinson (Brevard), Eddie Wilkie (West Henderson), Randy Wood (Pisgah,) and Paul Cannerali.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Lake Junaluska Baptist Church, 154 Sunset Ridge Road, Clyde, NC 28721. 

Crawford/Ray Funeral Home and Cremation Service is deeply honored to be caring for the Wright family.