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CHARLESTON, Ill. – Matt Bollant has completed his Eastern Illinois women's basketball coaching staff with the hiring of veteran coach Cleve Wright.
 
Wright joins coaches Kyley Simmons and Alex Guyton as assistant coaches on Bollant's first staff after he was hired as the Panthers head coach on April 14.
 
"I am so excited about the staff here at Eastern Illinois University," stated Bollant.  "They are extremely talented and driven, with each bringing a wide variety of strengths.  I feel like we have hit a home run by completing a great staff."
 
Wright comes to EIU after serving four years as the head coach at Miami of Ohio and has 15 total years as a head coach at both the NCAA Division I and Division II levels.  Wright built Gannon University into a Division II powerhouse winning more than 70 percent of his games during 11 years guiding the program.  In his final season he coached the team to a 31-5 record as they made their second appearance in the Elite Eight and finished ranked sixth in the nation.  Overall he led the program to five NCAA Tournament appearances all coming in his last seven seasons.  He was named the NCAA Division II Coach of the Year in 2010 after the team posted a 37-1 record advancing to the Final Four.  He coached seven All-Americans and 37 all-conference selections.
 
Prior to his 15 year stint as a head coach, Wright was a talented assistant coach in the Midwest working at Northwestern (1999-2002) and Butler (1997-98).  During his time at Northwestern he served as the recruiting coordinator and his 2001 class was ranked 35th best in the nation.  He was voted one of the top 25 assistant coaches in the NCAA Division I ranks in 2002.  Wright has additional coaching stops as the head coach at Southwestern High School in Somerset, Ky., and as an assistant coach at Duke during the 1992-93 season.
 
Wright earned his bachelor's degree from Berea College in 1989 competing on both the men's basketball and track teams.  He also served as a student assistant coach for the women's team.  He went on to work as a graduate assistant coach at Ball State from 1990-92 while earning his master's degree from Ball State in 1992.
 
He and his wife Diane have two daughters – Chloe and Emma.
 
"I am excited and thankful for this opportunity to help Coach Bollant build a program committed to success on the court, in the classroom and the community," said Wright.